Lama Tsultrim Allione
Lama Tsultrim Allione, author and international teacher, founded Tara Mandala with her late husband David Petit in 1994. Tara Mandala was inspired by a vision she had of a Western retreat center while living in the Himalayas in the 1970s, and today Lama Tsultrim serves as its spiritual director and resident teacher.
Lama Tsultrim was one of the first American women to be ordained as a Tibetan nun in 1970 by the 16th Karmapa. At the age of 26, after four years as a nun, she returned her monastic vows, married, and raised a family of three. Lama Tsultrim earned a Master’s degree in Buddhist Studies and Women’s Studies from Antioch University. She is the author of Women of Wisdom, a groundbreaking book on the lives of great female Tibetan practitioners.
Lama Tsultrim also authored the recently published Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict, which connects the knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism with the Western concept of the psyche, addressing major cultural issues and the roots of our suffering. This National Bestseller is based on Lama Tsultrim’s pioneering technique using five steps to nurture the parts of ourselves we usually fight.
For many years, Lama Tsultrim has focused her teachings on the lineage of Machig Labdrön, the 11th century Tibetan yogini who founded the Chöd lineage. In 2007, while leading a pilgrimage to Tibet, she was recognized as an emanation of Machig Labdrön by the resident Lama of Zangri Khangmar (Machig’s monastery in Tibet). In 2009 she was selected by an esteemed committee of scholars and practitioners to receive the international Outstanding Woman in Buddhism Award given in Bangkok, Thailand.
Lama Tsultrim’s teachings arise from the blessings of her many wonderful Tibetan Buddhist teachers, her 40-year dedication to the Buddhist teachings, and her experience as a Western woman.
Upcoming Programs by Lama Tsultrim Allione
Chöd: Cutting Through Fear, Fixation and Clinging
Kamalashila Institute, Langenfeld, Germany. Chöd: Cutting through Ego-clinging Chöd is a powerful practice for these difficult times, working in a direct way to cut through ego-clinging. Chöd has been called “the totality of all the teachings.” It brings a direct confrontation with self-clinging through the body offering. Chöd offers a method for working with the … More
Opening the Gate to Space: Advanced Vajrayana Retreat
Kamalashila Institute, Langenfeld, Germany. Lama Tsultrim will teach on Machig Labdrön’s male and female lineages and Machig’s profound “Opening the Gate to Space” practice. Opening the Gate to Space: This Nature of Mind P’howa practice was given by Machig to her oldest son, Gyalwa Dondrub. It is the heart and life force of the mother lineage … More
Kapala Level I Training: Feeding Your Demons
Haus Sonnenstrahl,Kisslegg, Allgau Germany. Kapala Training Level I offers an in-depth exploration into the practice lineage of the 11th century Tibetan yogini, Machig Labdrön, and the related nature of mind teachings of Prajna Paramita, the Great Mother. Inspired by the ancient practice of Chöd, “Feeding Your Demons” is a five-step process created by Lama Tsultrim … More
Kapala Training Level II: Feeding Your Demons
Felsentor, Switzerland. This retreat is a continuation of the Kapala Training program. It consists of a deepening of the Prajña Paramita practice, an introduction to Jamgön Kongtrül’s text Transmitting the Meaning of the Mother, and Machig Labdrön’s method for cutting through discursive thoughts with sound. “Feeding Your Demons” work will continue individually and in dyads … More
Prajna Paramita Teachings
Tibet House, Frankfurt, Germany. Prajna Paramita is the Great Mother. She is luminous clarity that is full of compassion; she is a diety, a symbol, and a sutra. Above all, she is the teaching that guides us to the experience of prajna, or wisdom, which is the capacity to perceive the ineffable vastness of basic space. … More
Dakini & Simhamukha Retreat
Tara Mandala, Pagosa Springs, Colorado. During this retreat we will learn and practice the Lion Headed (Simhamukha) Dakini practice and her wrathful mandala, working in depth with the energies of the five Dakinis in the context of this practice. This is a terma of Ayu Khandro (see her biography in Women of Wisdom). All registration … More
Green Tara Retreat
Tara Mandala, Pagosa Springs, Colorado. “Tara is accessible even to those who have not received the initiation of Tara. She is simply present. The reemergence of Tara’s energy, her feminine wisdom, and her compassion are essential for the earth and all people right now. We are out of balance, and feminine wisdom is lacking. One … More
Authorized Teachers Symposium
Tara Mandala, Pagosa Springs, Colorado. This retreat is for Tara Mandala Authorized Teachers and is by invitation only. All registration payments made above the lowest fee go directly into our scholarship fund.
Dzinpa Rangdröl Ngöndro
Also With Khenpo Ugyen Wangchuck
Tara Mandala, Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The Dzinpa Rangdröl ngöndro (foundational practices) of the Yangsang Khandro Thug Tig (Exceedingly Secret Heart Essence of the Dakini) cycle is the gateway for entering the profound lineage of the Dzinpa Rangdröl cycle. Since the time of Guru Rinpoche, the practice of ngöndro has been completed by all of the … More
The Chöd Fest
Also With Khenpo Ugyen Wangchuck
Tara Mandala, Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The Chöd Fest is an exciting addition to Tara Mandala’s retreat season and is a response to many requests from students who want to deepen their knowledge and practice of Chöd. In-depth teachings on the historical roots of this lineage will be complemented by our practice of the Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche Chöd … More
Naked Mind, Warm Heart: a Dzogchen Retreat
Also With Tsoknyi Rinpoche
Tara Mandala, Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The experience of empty clarity naturally gives birth to compassion. This retreat will explore the interface between openness of compassion and the depth radiance of awareness, looking at it in a hands-on way through practice. There will be an emphasis on clearing up the common mistakes that practitioners make in meditation … More
Kapala Training – Level II
Tara Mandala, Pagosa Springs, Colorado. This retreat is a continuation of the Kapala Training program. It consists of a deepening of the Prajña Paramita practice, an introduction to Jamgön Kongtrül’s text Transmitting the Meaning of the Mother, and Machig Labdrön’s method for cutting through discursive thoughts with sound. “Feeding Your Demons” work will continue individually and … More
Death & Dying: Phowa & Zhitro
Also With Chagdud Khadro
Tara Mandala, Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Zhitro: Lama Tsultrim will teach Zhitro (Peaceful and Wrathful) which is a practice used to help those who have died during the 49 days after death. It is a terma (treasure) from Namkha Mingyur Dorje, the young tertön whose revelations were written down by his teacher Karma Chagme. Most Zhitro practices … More
One Month Practice Pilgrimage to India
Including Chod Empowerment with HH 17th Karmapa and P’howa Retreat with Sey Rinpoche, Dzogchen Teachings with Lama Wangdor As one person on hearing of the pilgrimage said, “This is a trip of a lifetime!” And it is indeed – to go to these sacred places with these sublime teachers, all of who Lama Tsultrim has a … More
