Tara Mandala warmly invites you to join us for an insightful discussion with Professor Miranda Shaw as she shares her findings of the myriad ways women are regarded, treated, and celebrated as living goddesses in Vajrayana settings.  Her lecture will include a slide presentation drawing on her extensive fieldwork in the Kathmandu Valley, where viewing women as embodiments of goddesses (female Buddhas and bodhisattvas) finds tangible expression in familial and social interactions, visual culture, and ritual life. 

This talk will be offered via the Zoom platform. It will take place on Saturday, August 17, 2024 from 10:00am-12:00pm MDT.  Please use this link to see how this daily schedule translates into your timezone.

Christina Monson Memorial Lecture Series

On November 19, 2023, the great yogini and Tibetan translator Christina Monson (Sangye Gyalmo) integrated her consciousness into the Dharmakaya resting in tugdam (meditation) for three days amidst rainbow displays at the time of her passing and her cremation on November 22. She spent thirty years  in the high Himalayas and Kathmandu Valley.  She dedicated her life to practicing and translating the Dharma under the guidance of her root guru Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche who entrusted her with the lineage and translation of the termas and other writings of Dekyong Wangmo Sera Khandro. 

Upon learning of her passing, Lama Tsultrim Allione reflected that so often very intelligent articulate women spend their lives in the role of translator, which is a very important role, yet in reality they are also incredibly dedicated practitioners, with their own research, experience and knowledge.  We often don’t hear them teach or express their particular interests directly

Before she passed away Lama Tsultrim spoke to Christina about creating a legacy project in her memory and she replied, ”That would mean the world to me.” 

In honor of Christina and translators like her, Lama Tsultrim decided to create a memorial lecture series for women translators in the Tibetan tradition to speak about whatever inspires and interests them the most. During 2024, the Christina Monson Memorial Lecture Series has invited:

Sangye Khandro (Saturday, April 27, 2024) Register Here
Dr. Amelia Hall (Saturday, June 15, 2024) Register Here
Professor Miranda Shaw (Saturday, August 17, 2024)  Register Here

Past Lectures in this Series
March 2024 – Lama Sarah Harding – The Seven Day Severance Retreat Experiential Guide: An Introduction (online)

Who Should Attend? 
This program is open to everyone.

Recording Access: 
All participants will have a 1-year access period to the recordings.

What is a Tara Mandala Online Program?
Tara Mandala offers online programming via live and pre-recorded curriculum that give you the opportunity to access dharma teachings, engage in guided practice, experience personal retreat and hands-on learning, while connecting with other participants through easy-to-use online platforms and an engaged community network. When needed, the program description and schedule will inform you in advance if and when a specific online session must be attended live if a direct transmission (Tib. lung) may be given. Access to recordings of all sessions will be available for additional viewing for one year. 

Tara Mandala Pricing Guidelines
As we work to become an equitable, diverse and inclusive community, our pricing guidelines are intended to be a map, inviting each of us to take inventory of resources that contribute to our access to precious dharma teachings. While we do ask you to look inward, please know there is no right or wrong answer. We encourage you to select the range/rate appropriate to your circumstances. To learn more about Tara Mandala’s pricing guidelines for Online Programs, In-Person Retreats, and Special Promotions, please visit this page.

Installment Payment Plan Option at Registration
During registration, students can either pay the program fee in full or select the Installment Payment option. If choosing the installment payment option, students will pay a 50% deposit upon registering and subsequent equal payments will be processed automatically every two-weeks. The final balance is due 14 days before the start of the program.

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Offering dana to the teacher
The practice of offering dana, which means “generosity,” is the traditional offering the student makes to the teacher as a symbol of appreciation, gratitude, and reciprocity for receiving the precious teachings. Information on offering dana to the teacher will be provided during the online program. To learn more about dana and suggested dana ranges, please click here. 

Sustaining Sangha
If you are currently a member of our Sustaining Sangha, you may apply your Online Program discount to this course. To learn more about Sustaining Sangha membership, benefits, and discounts, click here. 

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