ARIZONA RETREAT CENTER

Teachings from Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

Jetsunma's engaging teaching style is perfectly attuned to the contemporary Western mind. Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo will tell you that she is “just a girl from Brooklyn.” His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, Supreme Head of the oldest school of Tibetan Buddhism (Nyingma), will tell you that she is the reincarnation of ancient Indian and Tibetan holy women who helped establish and develop Buddhism in Tibet. Her students will tell you that she is a wise, witty, and compassionate teacher who draws on her own experiences as a modern American woman in making accessible to them the most profound Buddhist teachings.

From childhood, Jetsunma has devoted herself to meditation and the alleviation of the world’s suffering. She is the first Western woman to have been recognized and enthroned by Tibetan lamas as a tulku, an enlightened teacher who reincarnates in whatever form can most benefit all beings. As her previous incarnations helped the Dharma, the Buddhist teachings, reach and flourish in Tibet, Jetsunma now is among those planting the seeds of Dharma in the West. To hear her teach is to hear age-old teachings brought to life for modern Americans. In Sanskrit, female “wisdom beings” are called “dakinis,” and Jetsunma is truly an American Dakini.

Jetsunma’s theme of “there’s something here for everyone” applies to all her talks and teachings. These are directed toward a wide audience ranging from longtime Buddhist practitioners to those who simply resonate with kindness, compassion and generosity toward all beings. The wisdom she shares can bring benefit and practical guidence to each of us in our busy lives.

Over the years Jetsunma has invited many of the world’s most revered Tibetan Buddhist masters to offer empowerments and teachings at Kunzang Palyul Choling. Many of those teachings, and many of Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo's teachings, have been captured on video and audio tape and are available from www.PalyulProductions.org