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Dec 06
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Sakyong and Family
A Warm Welcome

Sakyong Wangmo and Jetsun Yudra at the Welcoming Ceremony

Sakyong Wangmo and Jetsun Yudra at the Welcoming Ceremony

Jetsun Yudra’s First Visit to the Kalapa Court in Boulder

by Gabriel Dayley
Ceremony photos by Katie Weisberger; photo of Jetsun Drukmo by Pablo Coddou

With snow falling in Boulder on Thursday, November 21st, Shambhalians gathered at the Kalapa Court to warmly welcome Jestun Yudra — the Sakyong and Sakyong Wangmo’s second daughter — to her first stay in Colorado.

Inside the warm foyer, animated conversations and excitement mixed with the sounds of Emily Takahashi delightfully playing piano in the Great Room. Outside, the bright color of Shambhala flags punctured the grayish-white landscape, the mountains barely visible beyond.

Sakyong Wangmo sharing a smile with Jetsun Yudra

Sakyong Wangmo sharing a smile with Jetsun Yudra


Once the guests had assembled, Master of the Court Mark Thorpe welcomed everyone and described recent renovations to the Court that were designed to better support the Sakyong, Sakyong Wangmo and their family, and to allow visitors to experience the Court and lineage more fully. Within the Great Room, Mr. Thorpe directed everyone’s attention to a magnificent framed calligraphy above the fireplace on the north wall. Created in 1979 by the Druk Sakyong, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the calligraphy reads: “Kongma Sakyong.” Having found this calligraphy auspiciously tucked away at the Boulder Shambhala Center, the Sakyong had it framed in order to “emanate Sakyongship to guests of the Court,” Mr. Thorpe commented.

Josh Silberstein, the Sakyong’s chief of staff, also addressed the guests, highlighting the momentous public events that the Sakyong engaged in this year, reaching out more than ever before to society at large.

Sakyong Mipham with Jetsun Yudra

Sakyong Mipham with Jetsun Yudra

Mr. Silberstein also noted the blossoming of the Royal family, particularly Jetsun Drukmo and Jetsun Yudra. “For the Shambhala sangha, Jetsun Drukmo and Jetsun Yudra represent the continuation of our lineage,” he said. “For the world, they represent two future female leaders who will be equipped with the training and education of Sakyongs.”

After the welcoming comments, the Royal family arrived. The Sakyong and Sakyong Wangmo both looked radiant, and Jetsun Yudra looked adorable. Lady Konchok, Lama Pegyal, and Lama Gyurme Dorje were present, as well as members of the Ripa family. The Sakyong and Sakyong Wangmo each offered thoughts on the joys of raising a family, as well as the deepening of the Shambhala teachings in our sangha.

Goldstein family offers a statue of Gesar to Jetsun Yudra; Goldstein family includes the Sakyong Wangmo's nieces Palden and Sonam and her sister Semo Palmo and brother-in-law Alan Goldstein

Goldstein family offers a statue of Gesar to Jetsun Yudra; Goldstein family includes the Sakyong Wangmo’s nieces Palden and Sonam and her sister Semo Palmo and brother-in-law Alan Goldstein

Joyful sangha gathers

Joyful sangha gathers

With characteristic humor, the Sakyong also noted that “having a family has challenged all the great ones.” Several moments later, Jetsun Yudra leaned sideways on her mother’s lap and gazed out towards the audience with a curious expression on her face. “That’s a new move,” the Sakyong commented with a smile.

Following the Sakyong’s address, guests offered khatas to the Royal family, and members of the Sakyong’s and Sakyong Wangmo’s respective families offered gifts to Jetsun Yudra. Lady Konchok, Lama Pegyal and Lama Gyurme Dorje presented a traditional offering of abundant fresh fruit. Members of the Ripa and Goldstein family offered Jetsun Yudra a magnificent golden Gesar statue, designed from a vision of His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rinpoche. The rupa represents Gesar manifesting power, or wang in Tibetan.

The evening concluded with the Shambhala Anthem and a resounding warriors’ cry. Excitement bubbled among the guests over Jetsun Drukmo and Jetsun Yudra, and their embodiment of feminine principle and female leadership. As the family exited the Great Room, Jetsun Yudra reached out to feel Lady Konchok’s face. In a moment of poignant intimacy and expression of the mother lineage, she leaned forward, touching her forehead to her grandmother’s.

Lady Konchok with Jetsun Yudra

Lady Konchok with Jetsun Yudra

Sakyong Mipham with Jetsun Drukmo

Sakyong Mipham with Jetsun Drukmo

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2 responses to “ A Warm Welcome ”
  1. Muffie Noble
    Dec 11, 2013
    Reply

    “Excitement bubbled among the guests over Jetsun Drukmo and Jetsun Yudra, and their embodiment of feminine principle and female leadership.”

    My immediate reaction to this, as an actual female, is that just being in a female body has nothing to do with embodying the “female principle”. And that two babies are not (yet) leaders.

    I suspect, from the photo, that people are more likely bubbling over with enjoyment of two adorable babies.

    Muffie Noble

  2. What a beautiful, heart-warming article!


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