Teachers

Lama Tsultrim Allione

Lama Tsultrim Allione is the bestselling author of Women of Wisdom (1984), Feeding Your Demons (2008), and Wisdom Rising Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine (2018). Lama Tsultrim is the founder of Tara Mandala, a 700-acre retreat center with the three-story temple and library  dedicated to the divine feminine in the Buddhist tradition near Pagosa Springs, in southwest Colorado. She leads a vibrant international community with over forty groups around the world. Born in New England, she traveled to Asia in her late teens and in 1970 at the age of 22 in Bodhgaya, India she became the first American to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun. She later disrobed, married and became the mother of three and now is grandmother of six. In 2007 she was recognized in Tibet and Nepal as the reincarnation of a renowned 11th-century Tibetan yogini, Machig Labdrön, and she is one of the few women Lamas in the world today. In 2012 she received the Machig Labdron Empowerment from His Holiness the 17th Karmapa. She was awarded international recognition as an “Outstanding Woman in Buddhism” in 2009 by a panel of distinguished scholars and practitioners in Bangkok, Thailand.

Photo: © Katrin Röder

 

Events with Lama Tsultrim Allione

Feeding Your Demons® - Online Program
Open Dates

Join the Feeding Your Demons® Online Program and become fully certified to use this method in a professional setting with clients, or choose the à la carte options for personal growth and enrichment. Through compelling content and practice assignments, participants engage in a journey of increasing levels of personal transformation…

Zhitro: Self-Paced Program
Open Dates

In our society we often lack practices specifically designed to help someone who has died as they embark on their transitional journey. The simple and accessible practice of Zhitro offers a real way for a practitioner to help the deceased. This practice also helps one to become familiarized with the…

Riwo Sangchö: Self-Paced Program
Open Dates

Riwo Sangchö is the most widely-practiced sadhana for the Tibetan rite of sang, fragrant smoke offering. Sang is an ancient and powerful practice for purifying sickness, removing obstacles, accruing merit, and paying karmic debts. Through making offerings to the Buddhas & Bodhisattvas, Dharmapālas, Dakinis, and all sentient beings as well…

Wisdom Rising: Self-Paced Program
Open Dates

Key Features In this self-paced course, Lama Tsultrim takes you through the development of the feminine in Buddhism, the mandala principle, an introduction to the fierce feminine of the dakinis, the five buddha families, and several transformative meditation practices.  The course includes over 13 hours of teachings, guided meditations, worksheets,…

Green Tara: Self-Paced Program
Open Dates

Green Tara sits with one foot in the meditative posture and one foot in the world, thus embodying active compassion and serving as a model for modern day contemplative life. In this self-paced program, you have the opportunity to learn to embody Green Tara, the female Buddha of compassion, who…

Chöd of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche: Self-Paced Program
Open Dates

Chöd, the practice of severance, is a profound ritual for dealing with fears, illnesses, and difficult emotions. Developed in the 11th century by the great Tibetan yogini Machig Labdrön, the practice of Chöd slowly transformed from an obscure practice lineage into a cornerstone of multiple schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The…

Machig Labdrön and the Nature of Mind: Self-Paced Program
Open Dates

Machig Labdrön was an 11th century Tibetan yogini widely renowned for developing the practice of Chöd. She was recognized by the great scholars of her day to be an authentic master and had thousands of disciples. Machig was one of the few Tibetan women to establish practice lineages of her…

Opening the Heart Sutra: Self-Paced Program
Open Dates

In this self-paced program, Lama Tsultrim Allione teaches on the history and philosophical meaning of the Heart Sutra, the most widely beloved condensation of the Prajnaparamita literature. But despite its brevity and pithy nature, the Heart Sutra can be an easy source of confusion for those new to Mahayana philosophy.…

‘Live’ Webcast - Oral Transmission (Tib. Lung) for Green Tara, CNNR Chöd, Zhitro, and Riwo Sangchö
Open Dates

Lama Tsultrim Allione will be offering the Lung for Green Tara, Chöd, Zhitro, and Riwo Sangchö practices at a future date. Anyone is welcome to receive a Lung as a blessing and connection to a certain practice. If you have already received the Lung, you are welcome to receive it…

The Mandala Principle, MP3 (Digital Download)
Open Dates

The Mandala Principle – MP3 Lama Tsultrim Allione’s teachings on the Mandala Principle. The mandala is a template or blueprint of wholeness. It has a center and four directions. Associated with each direction is a color, an element, an obstructed pattern and a wisdom. It is a way to understand yourself and…

Wisdom Rising Essential Practices – MP3 (Digital Download)
Open Dates

This includes 7 guided meditations, as taught in the Wisdom Rising book, and led by Lama Tsultrim Allione, including: Mandala of the Five Wisdom Dakinis Practice Journey with the Dakini Practice Family Regression Practices (five practices – one for each family) Audio Length (total) 181 min Click Here for Our…

Dakini Mandala Practice – Guided Meditation, MP3 (Digital Download)
Open Dates

This is a guided meditation of the Dakini Mandala practice led by Lama Tsultrim Allione. Audio Length, 30 min Downloadable MP3 File,  29MB Upon purchase, you will have instant access to download the MP3 file.  Click Here for Our Cancellation and Refund Policy

Relationship & Intimacy as a Path – MP3 (Digital Download)
Open Dates

Lama Tsultrim Allione teaches on intimate relationship as a powerful transformative tool for awakening and how relationships can, in themselves, be the path. Audio Length, 1 hour Downloadable MP3 File, 45MB Click Here for Our Cancellation and Refund Policy

Machig Labdrön’s Four Demons & Feeding Your Demons Meditation – MP3 (Digital Download)
Open Dates

Lama Tsultrim Allione teaches on the Four Types of Demons as taught by the 11th Century yogini Machig Labdrön who founded the Chöd lineage in Tibet.  Lama Tsultrim introduces the concept of “feeding” not “fighting” that which ails us. She dives into “demons” such as fears, self-hatred, relationship issues, addictions, illnesses and depression, and…

The Life & Teachings of the Buddha – MP3 (Digital Download)
Open Dates

A perfect teaching for beginning and advanced students alike that includes a guided meditation practice. In this recording, Lama Tsultrim teaches on the important historical development of Buddhism and the three core principles of Buddhist training: discipline, meditative concentration, and wisdom. Lama Tsultrim introduces the Vehicles (Yanas) of Tibetan Buddhism…

Practicing at the Time of Death: Six Moments of Opportunity – MP3 (Digital Download)
Open Dates

Lama Tsultrim Allione’s teachings on the Bardo, the intermediate stage between death and rebirth. The Bardo is an ideal time to practice and recognize our true nature. Audio Length, 1 hour Downloadable MP3 File, 42MB Upon purchase, you will have instant access to download the MP3 file.  Click Here for Our…

Intimate Dialogue with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo and Lama Tsultrim Allione- Video (Digital Download)
Open Dates

Lama Tsultrim and Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo were one of the first American and European nuns, respectively, to be ordained in any Tibetan Buddhist lineage. Friends of 50 years, these fierce feminists discuss how they have revolutionized the role of women in dharma – and their work is far from over.…

Intimate Dialogue Series: A Three Video Collection (Digital Download)
Open Dates

This three-video compilation includes intimate conversations about living a spiritual life. The conversations were recorded in a setting with an audience that posed a variety of in-depth and important spiritual questions.  The dialogues are between Lama Tsultrim Allione and her close friends Jetsunman Tenzin Palmo, Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel, and Krishna Das…

Voices of Wisdom in Times of Crisis: Online Symposium Recorded Sessions (Digital Download)
Open Dates

Voices of Wisdom in Times of Crisis An Online Symposium Friday, May 22  – Monday, May 25, 2020 This recording package includes 13 sessions recorded during the Voices of Wisdom in Times of Crisis Online Symposium, co-hosted by Lama Tsultrim Allione and Shiva Rea. In these recordings, visionaries, teachers, activists and scholars…

Taking Grief onto the Path, MP4 (Digital Download - Video)
Open Dates

This is a video recording of an intimate teaching offered by Lama Tsultrim Allione, at the request of Chagdud Khadro, to teach on how a practitioner can take grief onto the spiritual path. This is the first teaching that Lama Tsultrim offered after the passing of her husband, David Petit.…

Zhitro: Self-Paced Program
Open Dates

In our society we often lack practices specifically designed to help someone who has died as they embark on their transitional journey. The simple and accessible practice of Zhitro offers a real way for a practitioner to help the deceased. This practice also helps one to become familiarized with the…

Riwo Sangchö: Self-Paced Program
Open Dates

Riwo Sangchö is the most widely-practiced sadhana for the Tibetan rite of sang, fragrant smoke offering. Sang is an ancient and powerful practice for purifying sickness, removing obstacles, accruing merit, and paying karmic debts. Through making offerings to the Buddhas & Bodhisattvas, Dharmapālas, Dakinis, and all sentient beings as well…

Wisdom Rising: Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine — Mandala Method Level I (Self-Paced Program)
Open Dates

“The mandala is a template or blueprint of wholeness. It has a center and four directions. Associated with each direction is a color, an element, an obstructed pattern and a wisdom. It is a way to understand yourself and also your world.” – Lama Tsultrim Allione In this self-paced course…

Green Tara: Self-Paced Program
Open Dates

Green Tara sits with one foot in the meditative posture and one foot in the world, thus embodying active compassion and serving as a model for modern day contemplative life. In this self-paced program, you have the opportunity to learn to embody Green Tara, the female Buddha of compassion, who…

Chöd of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche: Self-Paced Program
Open Dates

Chöd, the practice of severance, is a profound ritual for dealing with fears, illnesses, and difficult emotions. Developed in the 11th century by the great Tibetan yogini Machig Labdrön, the practice of Chöd slowly transformed from an obscure practice lineage into a cornerstone of multiple schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The…

Machig Labdrön and the Nature of Mind: Self-Paced Program
Open Dates

Machig Labdrön was an 11th century Tibetan yogini widely renowned for developing the practice of Chöd. She was recognized by the great scholars of her day to be an authentic master and had thousands of disciples. Machig was one of the few Tibetan women to establish practice lineages of her…

Opening the Heart Sutra: Self-Paced Program
Open Dates

In this self-paced program, Lama Tsultrim Allione teaches on the history and philosophical meaning of the Heart Sutra, the most widely beloved condensation of the Prajnaparamita literature. But despite its brevity and pithy nature, the Heart Sutra can be an easy source of confusion for those new to Mahayana philosophy.…

Lama Live!
Open Dates

IMPORTANT!!! This is an internal listing for the calendar that is redirected through a forwarding link by Ben to: https://www.taramandala.org/connect/ask-lama-tsultrim/  the root text document for website copy updates is: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UGQxNsuTuED_DM-UVs8I4VoXLoXzlZaJqMaHRQioNv0/edit#

Dzinpa Rangdröl Ngöndro - Transmission and Teachings (online)
May 25 - 26, 2024

Due to the requests from students, the complete cycle of Dzinpa Rangdröl as the Gateway Program will be offered again at Tara Mandala starting in January of 2025! However, there has been a request by students to start the Ngöndro sooner and so Lama Tsultrim will offer this teaching in…

Nondual Awareness: An Exploration of Effortless Presence (Retreat in New York)
June 21 - 23, 2024

We all have an awakened presence within us which is created as a spark of bliss at the moment of conception. This spark remains within us and can never be stained or tainted, but it can be hidden. Drawing from more than 50 years of training and practice in the…

Chöd: from Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (Retreat in Colorado)
July 3 - 8, 2024

We invite you to join us at Tara Mandala in Colorado for a profound opportunity to learn Chöd: from Chögyal Namkhai Norbu with Lama Tsultrim Allione (joining virtually) and  Lopön Karla Jackson-Brewer, M.S. (in-person). Chöd is a unique blend of the Tibetan Shamanic traditions and the Buddhist tradition of compassion…

Wisdom Rising: Journey into the Mandala of the Sacred Masculine— Mandala Method Level II (online)
July 13 - August 31, 2024

“The mandala is a template or blueprint of wholeness. It has a center and four directions. Associated with each direction is a color, an element, an obstructed pattern and a wisdom. It is a way to understand yourself and also your world.” – Lama Tsultrim Allione    We invite you…

Ösel Nyingtig: Means for Accomplishing the Guru and Continuing Tröma’s Secret Instructions (Retreat in Colorado)
July 27 - August 1, 2024

We are pleased to offer to the Ösel Nyingtig students for the first time this profound teaching from the Osel Nyingtig terma Cycle for accomplishing the Guru known as the Secret Thigle. This practice was revealed in Tibet in 2007 by A.dzom Paylo Rinpoche when he met Guru Rinpoche in…

Celebrating 30 Years of Wisdom & Compassion (In Colorado)
August 2 - 4, 2024

Join Lama Tsultrim and the Tara Mandala community as we joyously commemorate our 30-year anniversary at Tara Mandala’s retreat center in Colorado this Summer.  A special weekend celebration will take place from August 2nd to the 4th, and include: powerful rituals that honor Tara Mandala’s founders and teachers, sharing stories…

Magyu Biennial Gathering - Honoring the Mandala (Retreat in Colorado)
August 5 - 9, 2024

In this special year marking the 30th Anniversary of Tara Mandala, we celebrate the sacred and powerful land that is the home of the Magyu lineage. This is a special time to gather with fellow Magyu sangha members for practice, teachings and shared conversations. This year our theme is the…

Non-Dual Awareness: An Exploration of Effortless Presence (Retreat in Canada)
August 9 - 14, 2024

We all have awakened presence within us which is created as a spark of bliss at the moment of conception. This spark remains within us and can never be stained or tainted, but it can be hidden. Drawing from over fifty years of training and practice in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition…

Nondual Awareness: An Exploration of Effortless Presence (Retreat in Czech Republic)
September 27 - 29, 2024

Do you need to experience again the sincere joy you haven’t felt for a long time? Are you failing to experience the sacred essence of your being? Give yourself the nurturing you need and get the tools to free yourself from the cycle of suffering once and for all. We…

Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflicts – “Feeding Your Demons” (Retreat in Germany)
October 5, 2024

We are very much looking forward to the very special opportunity to experience Lama Tsültrim Allione in person! In the Nymphenburg Orangery she presents the method she developed, explains the background from Tibetan Buddhism, guides through the exercise and is available to answer questions. “The process of feeding your own demons…

Pure Consciousness: An Exploration of Our Hidden Potential (Retreat in Germany)
October 6 - 11, 2024

We all have a well of consciousness deep within us. It’s created the moment we’re conceived. This spark of consciousness remains in our soul and can never be altered or compromised. Yet for most of us, it remains hidden. And it awaits our rediscovery. Drawing from over fifty years of…

Wisdom of Awareness: An Exploration of Effortless Presence (Retreat in Sweden)
October 18 - 20, 2024

We all have awakened presence within us which is created as a spark of bliss at the moment of conception. This spark remains within us and can never be stained or tainted, but it can be hidden. Drawing from over fifty years of training and practice in the Tibetan Buddhist…

Ösel Nyingtig: Means for Accomplishing the Guru and Continuing Tröma’s Secret Instructions (online)
December 6 - 8, 2024

We are pleased to offer to the Ösel Nyingtig students for the first time this profound teaching from the Osel Nyingtig terma Cycle for accomplishing the Guru known as the Secret Thigle. This practice was revealed in Tibet in 2007 by A.dzom Paylo Rinpoche when he met Guru Rinpoche in…

Mandala Method Level III: Journey into the Union of Sacred Feminine and Masculine (online)
January 31 - March 1, 2025

“In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the pinnacle spiritual experience is described as the union of the feminine, symbolizing wisdom, with the masculine, symbolizing skillful means.” ~ Lama Tsultrim Allione   Venture into the mandala of divine union, the Yab Yum Mandala. Building upon the five family explorations and practices of the…