Monday

Sakyong appoints first South American acharya

The Office of the Sakyong is pleased to announce that the Kongma Sakyong has formally appointed Ms. Magali Meneses Ibañez to the position of acharya. A native of Santiago, Chile Ms. Meneses is the first South American acharya.

Magali has been a key leader in the Chilean sangha, serving as a shastri since 2010, a translator, and twice holding the position as Santiago’s center director. In February 2016, at the Chilean Garchen, the Sakyong appointed her as an acharya and more recently formally gave her the acharya name Peace Coil of Joy [Shiwa Ga Khyil] at a feast at Karmȇ Chöling.

Magali holds a degree in fine arts and specializes in documentary film-making which she teaches at the university in Santiago. She is the mother of three girls, a grandmother, and has lived in various countries, including Cuba and the United States. Following the military coup in 1973 Magali lived in exile for five years in Paris, returning to Chile where she made experimental videos and documentaries for the feminist movement, slowly becoming a filmmaker.

She started meditating in Shambhala in 1994, with a very clear feeling of being home and finding her path. Taking any class she could, she attended Warriors Assembly in 2001, Sutrayana Seminary in 2002, and Kalapa Assembly and Vajrayana Seminary in 2003. She began translating for the Sakyong in his 2002 visit to Chile.

This appointment further empowers the South American Shambhala community which, due to the good works of Magali and others, is vibrant and thriving. Please join us in welcoming Magali Meneses Ibañez to the Council of Acharyas.