May 13
Tuesday
Bhikshuni Pema Chödrön appointed Abbess of Gampo Abbey
An excerpt from the Gampo Abbey May 2025 Newsletter.
Our first Abbot, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche (1933-2023), served at the request of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche for many years until his passing in 2023, and Ani Pema has been our Principal Teacher for all those years.
Today, we are very pleased to share some exceptionally good news. Bhiksunni Pema Chödrön has agreed to be the Abbess of Gampo Abbey. She has a vision for moving forward, keeping the monastic tradition alive in the Western world, and we are very pleased.
After serving the community for over forty years as Principal Teacher, Ani Pema will become our Abbess. Following our first Abbot, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, who died in 2023, Ani Pema says she is very excited to take this new role.
Watch the video to see her comments on the appointment.
To honour her appointment, we have initiated a fund to support the future operations of Gampo Abbey and fulfill her vision going forward called Honouring Abbess Pema Chödrön.
If you would like to link your karmic path and show your support for our new Abbess, you can do that below.
Entries filed under Community Articles
Challenges and Inspiration – HIGHLIGHT
Expanding commitment to accessibility at Shambhala’s land centers by Stefan Carmien Our community has always been aware of the challenges that some of us have faced. A few of you long-time members may recall helping a fellow practitioner up the stairs of the Boulder center at 1111 Pearl ... continuePosted February 5, 2017 by CGH
Condolences
The effects of the tragic attack in the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec on Sunday are being felt throughout the world. As the Premier of Québec said “Not just the Muslim community, it’s not just the people of Quebec. Everyone is suffering from this.” ... continuePosted February 2, 2017 by David_Brown
Race, Love, and Liberation – HIGHLIGHT
A coalition of meditation centers sponsors community conversation around race, power, and unity in North Carolina by Catherine Neill A long time ago, though it’s only been two weeks, we were in church on a Friday night in Durham, North Carolina to hear Rev. angel Kyodo williams. Everything ... continuePosted November 22, 2016 by catherineneill
Prison Retreat – HIGHLIGHT
A week-long Shambhala meditation intensive takes place in a prison setting The Snake River Shambhala Meditation Group is the only entity within Shambhala that functions entirely inside a prison—the Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario, Oregon. This medium-security facility is the largest prison in Oregon (25 acres ... continuePosted November 16, 2016 by Trime
City of No Illusions – HIGHLIGHT
Shambhala grows and finds a new home in Buffalo, New York by Pat Pendleton and Ed Taylor Maybe it’s a cicada thing—they certainly were singing in the summer of 2016. After seven years in the cocoon of its previous skin, it was time for Shambhala Meditation Group of ... continuePosted October 11, 2016 by CGH
Practicing Radical Dharma – HIGHLIGHT
by Daniel Phillips In March of 2015 Reverend angel Kyodo williams Sensei, founder of the Center for Transformative Change in Berkeley California, visited the Atlanta Shambhala Center, along with Lama Rod Owens, who is the resident director of the Natural Dharma Fellowship in Cambridge Massachusetts. At the ... continuePosted October 3, 2016 by CGH
Sakyong Mipham in Seattle – HIGHLIGHT
Rising to the Occasion: Social Engagement in a Chaotic World By Shastri Matthew Lyon Sakyong Mipham’s forthcoming visit to Seattle will focus on his powerful teachings on social engagement from the Buddhist point of view. As the spiritual and temporal leader of the worldwide Shambhala Buddhist community, he has ... continuePosted September 29, 2016 by CGH
Harvest of Peace Address Now Online
Kongma Sakyong Harvest of Peace 2016 The Sakyong’s Harvest of Peace address to the international community is now available online. In this year’s address, the Kongma Sakyong touched on strengthening families, looking to the future, loyalty to basic goodness, balancing bravery and tenderness, and extending out. Please click ... continuePosted September 27, 2016 by David_Brown
Harvest of Peace 2016 – HIGHLIGHT
Shambhalians the world over gather to celebrate Harvest of Peace This weekend, we come together once again at the turning of the season, to connect with one another and to gather our energies after a summer of practice and activity. In this time of turbulence, conflict, and ... continuePosted September 23, 2016 by CGH
A Place Where People Can Be Liked – HIGHLIGHT
In preparation for Harvest of Peace later this month, a Windhorse retreat leads to personal reflection on the meaning of Shambhala by Caroline Moore I have been attending Shambhala on and off for about six years, having completed Way of Shambhala and currently working through the Sacred Path series. At this ... continuePosted September 7, 2016 by CGH
Awaken, Chicago: Reflecting on the Teachings – HIGHLIGHT
by Abbey Fox It’s been three heavy months since we hosted Awaken Chicago. We’ve tragically lost Philandro Castle, Alton Sterling, and Delrawn Small to racist police brutality. We’ve mourned the tremendous loss of 49 queer people of color in Orlando to homophobic rage. A beautiful, peaceful Black Lives ... continuePosted August 10, 2016 by CGH
After the Bodhisattva Vow – HIGHLIGHT
Members of the Portland Shambhala Center work together to create community and connections for those who have taken the Bodhisattva Vow by Jan Rogerson and Willa Rabinovitch The Bodhisattva Vow ceremony, attended by family, friends and sangha, was moving and inspiring – a momentous and life-changing event. Afterwards, ... continuePosted August 8, 2016 by CGH
The Earth is Heating Up – HIGHLIGHT
With global warming happening, and happening so fast, what’s a Shambhalian to Do? by Emily Takahashi I had a running start on most people on the news that Earth’s temperature was increasing, due to the burning of fossil fuels. In the 1970’s, when I was still a teenager, ... continuePosted July 27, 2016 by CGH
Joyful Means – HIGHLIGHT
A practitioner investigates how art can save us, and shares the experience of an integrative arts festival by Elizabeth Russell The intelligence that evolved us from star dust and interconnects us with all beings is sufficient for the healing of our Earth community, if we but align with ... continuePosted July 23, 2016 by CGH
Remembering Jason Lowen-Ross – HIGHLIGHT
The Shambhala Centre of Vancouver gathers to honor and remember fellow warrior Jason Loewen-Ross by Bob Stiven On Thursday, July 7, 2016, our friend and fellow Shambhalian Jason Loewen-Ross succumbed to a massive heart attack. Monday, July 11, a ceremony was held for Jason at the Vancouver Shambhala ... continuePosted July 17, 2016 by paulbel
RSS feed for the Community Articles category
View all posts from authors in Community Articles: jillian_johnson
