Feeding your Demons named one of top 50 spiritual books by Spirituality and Practice

Every year, the publication Spirituality and Practice chooses 50 "best spiritual books" from the 300 they review annually. These are the titles that have most impressed and inspired them, and since they only review books that they want to recommend to people for their spiritual journey, this selection actually represents the best of the best. Read their review...

Autographed Feeding your Demons Available from Bookstore

Our bookstore would be happy to send you autographed copies of Lama Tsultrim’s new book, Feeding your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict. If you order 3 or more copies in one order, you will receive a 10% discount. The book has received great acclaim and reports of benefitting many. Order here...

Fall Teaching Tour: Boston, Kripalu, Ithaca, and Spirit Rock

October 14, 15, and 16
Evening Programs
Boston
with Lama Tsultrim Allione

On the evenings of October 14th, 15th and 16th, Lama Tsultrim will be offering evening programs in the Boston area. As soon as these details are finalized, we will post them on our website.

October 14, Evening: Feeding Your Demons talk and book signing hosted by Jhamtse International, at the Trinitarian Church in Concord.

October 15, Evening: Prajna Paramita practice transmission, hosted by The Women's Well, at the Harvey Wheeler Community Center in Concord.

October 16, Evening: Feeding Your Demons talk and book signing at Harvard University: cosponsored by Harvard Buddhist Community and the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard.

October 17-19
Chöd Retreat
Kripalu Yoga Center, Lenox, MA
with Lama Tsultrim Allione

An integration of Tibetan shamanic traditions and Buddhism’s teachings of compassion and emptiness, the centuries-old practice of Chöd helps us to understand the root of our pain and provides a way to resolve our deepest shadows and hardest addictions. Popularized by the eleventh-century yogini Machig Labdrön and used for cutting through fear, fixation, and self-clinging, Chöd is a wonderful practice for these times.
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October 19-24
Kapala Training Level I
Kripalu Yoga Center, Lenox, MA
with Lama Tsultrim Allione

Kapala Training Level I is the first of a four-level training. It offers an in-depth exploration of the practice in the lineage of eleventh-century Tibetan yogini Machig Labdrön and the related Mahayana teachings of Prajña Paramita, the Great Mother, our own true nature. The training is for those who wish to work deeply with their own "demons" through contemplative practice.
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October 25-26
Feeding Your Demons Retreat
Ithaca, NY
with Lama Tsultrim Allione

We all have our demons - fear, anxiety, depression, anger, addictions, and illnesses. Within the ancient teachings of Tibetan Buddhism there is a meditation for facing and liberating these demons which block us from awakening. Drawing from Machig Labdrön's teachings, a legendary 11th century female yogini, the nature of mind teachings of Prajna Paramita, and based on Tsultrim's new book, Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict, we will explore a five-step process to help you meet and release your own demons, transforming them into allies.
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September 21-28
Awakening Through the Sacred Feminine - A Women's Retreat
Spirit Rock, Woodacre, CA
with Lama Tsultrim Allione, Debra Chamberlin-Taylor, Julie Wester, Anna Douglas

The Dharma of Wisdom and Compassion can be realized through a variety of gateways. Many women find this realization most accessible through the practices of the Sacred Feminine. This retreat offers a rich weave of these practices, including Prajnaparamita meditation, mindful awareness, feeding our demons, relational practice and guided movement. We will also offer support for the formation of on-going communities of women practitioners.
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Bookstore Manager Position Opening Soon

After five years of devoted service and making our bookstore what some have described as "the most beautiful store I've seen in any meditation center" Vanessa feels the need to reenter the world to further her education. We will miss her vibrant presence "on the land," but she will continue to be part of the extended mandala. This creates a unique and exciting opportunity to take on the management of the Tara Mandala Bookstore. The store offers a wide range of products, including books, clothing, ritual items, herbal and body care products, and recorded teachings to customers onsite as well as online. A highly creative and independent position, the bookstore manager oversees all aspects of this retail business: creating a diverse inventory, developing relationships with customers and vendors, establishing an attractive aesthetic environment onsite and online, and maintaining a financial overview of the business.

The new bookstore manager will be building on an already well-established business, and will have the opportunity to bring his/her own vision and talent to the position. We are looking for a motivated and entrepreneurial individual with experience in business/retail, basic financial tracking, and customer relations; preferably, a knowledge of Buddhist literature and ritual items; and a heart connection to Tara Mandala’s lineage and practices. Experience with online retail environments is a plus.

To apply, please send a resume and letter of interest to Cady Holtkamp, cady@taramandala.org.

Matthew Sutton Joins Board of Trustees

We are happy to announce that Matthew Sutton is joining the Tara Mandala board of trustees. Matthew has more than 25 years in environmental consulting and environmental education services. He began his career as an environmental engineer in 1982 and has successfully grown companies up to his most recent position as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of LFR Levine Fricke, a national environmental management and consulting firm. As President and COO, he has responsibility for the strategic vision and the day to day operations of the firm, and directly oversees Human Resources, Information Technology, and Health and Safety. Under the direction of Matthew, LFR has doubled over the past five years while self-financing this growth through cash flow management. Following ten years of zero growth, Matthew was hired to help with the financial turnaround.  Through Matthew’s guidance, LFR implemented a five-year vision plan, which included corporate restructuring, regional sales plans and an aggressive approach to recruiting top talent and acquisitions. LFR has grown to more than 500 employees based out of thirty-four locations nationwide. LFR provides full service environmental consulting for capital development, water, transportation and facilities projects nationwide. He has extensive experience in all aspects of strategy development, organizational management, staff and team management, educational program planning, marketing and outreach, and budget management, as well as all aspects of sustainable ecological management. Matthew is moving to Pagosa Springs in September with his wife Carre Otis, a long time Sangha member, and their two beautiful girls Jade and baby Kaya. We are thrilled to have Matthew's expertise on the board and to welcome this family as part of the local Sangha.

Upcoming Retreats

August 25 – 29
DZOGCHEN RETREAT: The Great Perfection
with Tsoknyi Rinpoche

The teachings of Dzogchen ("Great Perfection") invite students to experience a direct realization of the Nature of Mind. In this retreat we will received these teachings from Tsoknyi Rinpoche, one of the most skilled and respected Tibetan lamas.

News Flash:
Tsoknyi Rinpoche will be teaching Yeshe Tsogyal's Dzogchen Songs of  Realization during his retreat in the Vajrayana section of the Three Yanas, and Lama Tsultrim will be leading evening sessions for the group.

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September 4 – 11
KAPALA TRAINING LEVEL II
with Lama Tsultrim Allione
Prerequisite: Completion of Kapala Training Level I and the interim assignments.

In this retreat we will deepen our Prajna Paramita practice and be introduced to Jamgon Kongtrul's text Transmitting the Meaning of the Mother, a practice on looking at the sky-like nature of mind, the Great Mother. We will also practice Machig Labdron's method for cutting through discursive thoughts with sound.

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