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
A Letter Regarding the Earthquake in Nepal from Shastri Amy Conway – HIGHLIGHT
Dear Shambhala Sangha, Photo by Bob Sonne on his 2008 trip to Nepal and India As you have probably heard by now, yesterday a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal killing more than 2,500 people with other deaths in India and Tibet. Aftershocks today have also been devastating. The ... continuePosted April 28, 2015 by Dan
Sugaring at Karmê Chöling – HIGHLIGHT
Last year, the Karmê Chöling staff, under the guidance of Jason Winchester, ‘sugared’ the land at Karmê Chöling for the first time in many years, eventually producing over 12 gallons of maple syrup. This year, they are at it again. This column recollects last year’s experience, from the eyes ... continuePosted April 27, 2015 by Dan
Becoming Who We Want to Be: Toronto Shambhala, Part 2 – HIGHLIGHT
COLUMN: Shambhala on the Move by Margaret May This is part two of a two-part series on the tale of the transformation of the Toronto Shambhala Center. Click here for Part One. September 2013: It is a Tuesday night, about fifteen minutes before sitting and instruction begins. In the Community ... continuePosted April 26, 2015 by Dan
Learning to Cook for the Guru, or, “Watch the Schmaltz” – HIGHLIGHT
COLUMN: Kitchen Wisdom by Judy Sachs Sullivan Serving in the household of the guru is both a precious opportunity to be in the center of the mandala, to spend time with the teacher (albeit in a formal setting with a prescribed position), and serve in a courtly environment. ... continuePosted April 25, 2015 by Dan
The Splendiferous House that Ryken Built – HIGHLIGHT
COLUMN: Aging in Enlightened Society by Steven Wilke At halftime, he grabbed the belligerent man and slammed him against the Lamp Post’s bathroom wall, finally shutting him up. “Some people are trying to watch the football game in here,” Tom explained to the bewildered, pinned patron who had been ... continuePosted April 24, 2015 by Dan
A Waste of Time – HIGHLIGHT
COLUMN: In Everyday Life guest article by Acharya Michael Greenleaf originally published on Samadhi Cushions The $600/hour litigator is wearing a custom suit. A smart dresser, and if it helps to paint a picture, yes, he’s from Brooklyn. Nothing much gets by this savvy fellow. He’s talking to me. ... continuePosted April 12, 2015 by
Yarne: The Heart of Gampo Abbey – HIGHLIGHT
by Emma Cataford, temporary monastic and Loden Nyima, Head of Education at Gampo Abbey The community at Gampo Abbey ushered in 2015 by starting their annual winter retreat, called Yarne. Entering the retreat involves formally committing to remain within both the physical boundaries of the land as well ... continuePosted April 8, 2015 by Dan
Warrior Tribute: Fay Octavia Elliott – HIGHLIGHT
by Nathan Railla “My prayer is that when it comes my time to die, because I am walking the bodhisattva chaplain path focused on love in the form of two-fold Bodhichitta, my practice, and engagement with the suffering of the world, I will die with no regrets.” ... continuePosted April 6, 2015 by Dan
Becoming Who We Want to Be: Toronto Shambhala – HIGHLIGHT
COLUMN: Shambhala on the Move by Margaret May This is part one in a two-part series on the transformation of the Toronto Shambhala Center. November 2012: Wendy Friedman (Director of Shambhala Culture and Decorum) and David Mukpo (Kusung Commander for the Dorje Kasung) are in town to lead an experiential ... continuePosted March 28, 2015 by Dan
The Rabbi’s Gifts – HIGHLIGHT
COLUMN: Aging in Enlightened Society by Jackie Roberts Reb Zalman and Sara Davidson discussing “the December project” ( from www.saradavidson.com) In 2002, I moved back to my native home of Denver to assist my elderly parents who were in their 80s. Mostly a dutiful daughter, I had stayed in ... continuePosted March 27, 2015 by Dan
Local, Healthy Fare at Windhorse Retreat Center – HIGHLIGHT
COLUMN: KITCHEN WISDOM by Lisa Harris, Column Co-Host Sue Firer is the manager of Windhorse Retreat Center, the only Shambhala land center in the Midwest. She is likely to be in the kitchen cooking up healthy fare for all of the participants during programs and retreats. I recently ... continuePosted March 25, 2015 by Dan
Jump the Gun – HIGHLIGHT
by Dan Peterson, Kadö Desung Care and Conduct Officer I turned on the AM radio while driving and was hooked. There was a shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck High School and five students were dead. The school was on lock-down and First Responders were on the scene, as well as local ... continuePosted March 21, 2015 by Dan
Karma, India, and Systems of Circumstance – HIGHLIGHT
Resistance is Futile a reflection and photos by Evan Silverman A few months ago, after a long day of traveling throughout India, I was asked the question “What makes some of us born into wealth, while other people suffer so much?” It was a well-warranted question; we had ... continuePosted March 13, 2015 by
Once for a Lifetime – HIGHLIGHT
On Temporary Monastic Ordination by Gelong Loden Nyima, Head of Practice and Education at Gampo Abbey Edited by Emma Cataford, Temporary Monastic at Gampo Abbey Photographs by Thubten Tingdzen and Adrian Thalasinos Haley The Shambhala monastic community Someone once asked one of the great monastics and teachers of the Tibetan community ... continuePosted March 8, 2015 by Dan
Horsemanship Dharma – HIGHLIGHT
by Katharine Locke Katharine and Lochinvar Training the horse is training the mind: training it to be present, to be kind, to recognize the everyday wisdom in the actions of the horse, to find the simple way, to formulate clear questions for the horse, and to listen closely ... continuePosted March 5, 2015 by Dan
RSS feed for the Community Articles category
View all posts from authors in Community Articles: jillian_johnson