Jan 23

Meeting the Wisdom Mother

“When we talk about the sacred feminine, we go into an experience … that is really inexpressible.”

~ Lama Tsultrim Allione.

Many of us suffer from a lack of connection with the Wisdom Mother and could benefit from methods and experiences connecting us to her. How can we find the Great Mother within? Join Shiva Rea and Lama Tsultrim on May 5-9 for this juicy, rich connection with the Wisdom Mother.

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During this retreat approaching Mother’s Day, we will explore the Great Wisdom Mother, and her historical emanation Machig Labdrön, the 11th century Tibetan Yogini. This retreat also falls on Machig’s birthday, which we will celebrate on May 7th, practicing the Rinchen Trengwa (Garland of Precious Jewels).

What is the Great Wisdom Mother? In this video Lama Tsultrim and Shiva Rea touch the heart of this experience.

Machig Labdrön

And the Great Wisdom Mother

Machig Labdrön’s teachings and practices of Chöd (literally “severance” or “cutting through”) have profoundly influenced all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. She was unique in being both a woman and Tibetan, diverging from the traditional norm of male, Indian Buddhist masters. Her life is an inspiring story of a committed practitioner, at-times beggar woman, brilliant teacher, mother and lineage founder. In her early life, Machig had great accomplishment in reading the Prajna Paramita sutra (the Great Mother). She moved beyond mere recitation and conceptual understanding of this text during a reading of the chapter on demons. Having cut through ego-fixation, she entered a new chapter in her life and planted the seeds for the practice of Chöd … Read more »

Online Programs

Touching the Heart of the Mother

In these two online programs we delve deeper into aspects of the Great Mother:

Opening the Heart Sutra – 3 hours of video teachings from Lama Tsultrim on the concise teaching of Prajnaparamita. Click for more »

Machig Labdrön and the Nature of Mind – Lama Tsultrim shares easy to understand language of how the ‘nature of mind’ can be perceived and how it was taught from the perspective of Machig Labdrön. Click for more »

About The Retreat Teachers

Lama Tsultrim Allione

Lama Tsultrim Allione is founder and resident lama of Tara Mandala. She is author of Women of Wisdom, Feeding Your Demons, and Wisdom Rising: Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine. Born in New England to an academic/publishing family, she traveled to India in her late teens and was ordained as a Buddhist nun at the age of 22 by H.H. the 16th Karmapa. She was the first American to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun in the Karma Kagyu lineage. After living in the Himalayan region for several years she returned her vows and became the mother … Read more »

Shiva Rea

Shiva Rea bows to the master teachers, elders and grandmothers from around the world from Africa to Asia who have expanded and deepened her integration of yoga and movement meditation. With a M.A. in World Arts and Cultures, Shiva is the founder of Global School of Living Yoga, Prana Vinyasa, Global Mala Project and Yogadventures, offering retreats, teacher training and online programs around the world, serving yoga for all.

We look forward to welcoming you as we connect with the Great Wisdom Mother within.

~ With Love,
Tara Mandala Retreat Center

Photos: Header (Deborah Howe), Machig Labdrön statue (Clinton Spence)
gold geometric divider