Tsechen Namdrol Ling Joyfully Presents
Nima Dorjee & Elisabeth Benard!

Nima Dorjee
Highlights of Tibetan History (in Tibetan)
The Rich Heritage of Tibetan History from 242 BCE to 1959
Tibetan Association of Santa Fe  ~ Friday, August 31, 7 pm
915 Hickox St, Santa Fe, NM 87505

Please come join us to learn about our rich Tibetan heritage, which began with our first king in 242 BCE.  Our kings were great military commanders and Tibet was a super power in Central Asia from the 7th to 9th century.  By the 11th century, we Tibetans were more interested in Buddhism than military conquest and four major sects developed–Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Kadam. In the 13th century, the Sakya leaders who impressed Mongolian Khans with their deep understanding of Buddhism deterred the Khans from conquering Tibet. One of the most significant leaders was Chosgyal Phagpa who became the lama for Kublai Khan, the emperor of China. Thus for one century, the Sakyas were the rulers of Tibet. Then for several centuries no leader united the Tibetans until 1642 when the fifth Dalai Lama became both the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetans. He ordered the construction of the Potala, the most impressive building in Tibet. In the following centuries, some of the Dalai Lamas were more powerful than others.  We shall look at the lives of the 13th Dalai Lama and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

Elisabeth Benard
Born to Practice: The Sakya Jetsunma Phenomenon
Phenomenal Spiritual Adepts Who Are Women,
Their Hidden Lives and Achievements, Past & Present  
Tsechen Namdrol Ling ~ Sunday, Sept 2nd, 2 pm
1341 Upper Canyon Rd., Apt 2, Santa Fe, 87501
Space is Extremely Limited, Please RSVP  /  $10-15 Donation Suggested

Sakya Jetsunmas are a wonderful example of Tibetan women who are encouraged by their families and society to be religious practitioners.  Their hidden world needs to be brought to light and their achievements must be recognized in any account of spiritual lives of Tibetan women, past and present.
Among Tibetan male spiritual adepts, many have the title of Jetsun or one worthy of honor, such the famous 11th century yogi–Milarepa. However, few Tibetan female spiritual practitioners are honored with this title.  One of the more famous is the yogini Shugsep Jetsun (1852-1953).
In this illustrated lecture, the title of Jetsunma and who receives this title will be discussed. One significant group who are bestowed this title at birth are the Sakya Khon daughters.  Among the Sakya Jetsunmas, some are known as eminent lamas who conferred the significant Lamdre teachings and who have had many disciples, including several Sakya Trizins. Two biographies will be highlighted: the contemporary Jetsun Kushok Chime Luding Rinpoche who is one of the most important female teachers of this century and the 18th century Jetsunma Chime Tenpai Nyima.  She is best known for being the only woman who is included as a guru in the Naro-Vajrayogini guru transmission lineage.  Long live the Jetsunmas!

Nima Dorjee is a scholar and specialist in Tibetan art and Tibetan history. He worked as researcher and scholar at the Jacques Marchais Center for Tibetan Art, Staten Island, NY and his research at the Center resulted in a highly acclaimed book on Tibetan art history, Treasures of Tibetan Art, published by Oxford University Press. Also serving as a consultant for the valuable Tibetan collection at Newark Museum, NJ he participated in producing Tibetan Sacred Art Video as well as a popular special exhibit on Tibetan culture and art.  Throughout his scholarly career, he received grants including the JD Rockefeller III grant, NEH Travel to Collections grants, Luce Foundation grant, Tibet House grant and Asian Cultural Council grant.  He continues to serve as Vice President of Tibet Center in NYC since its inception.  Currently he is writing a comprehensive history of his natal state of Dagyab in East Tibet and has presented some aspects of his research at several international conferences in Europe and North America.

Elisabeth Benard is a professor emeritus in Asian Studies and Religion at the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington, USA.  Her publications include Chinnamasta: the Aweful Buddhist and Hindu Tantric Goddess, “A Secret Affair: The Wedding of a Sakya Dagmo” in Tibetan Studies: Anthology PIATS2006 edited by S Arslan & P Schweiger,  “Transformations of Wen Cheng Kongjo: Tang Princess, Tibetan Queen and Buddhist Goddess Tara,” in Goddesses Who Rule edited by Elisabeth Benard and Beverly Moon. “Born to Practice: the Sakya Jetsunma Phenomenon” in Revue d’Etudes Tibétaines issue 34, December 2015: Women as Visionaries, Healers and Agents of Social Transformation in the Himalayas, Tibet and Mongolia edited by Mona Schrempf and Nicola Schneider. She received the Faculty Global Engagement Award from her university and has lectured extensively in the U.S, Asia and Europe.

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Khenpo Thupten Gongphel

Teachings TBA
October 2018

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Khenpo Pema Wangdak


Teachings TBA
November 2018

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