Contemplation Past Grants
FELLOWSHIPS
Lama Tempa Gyamtso
Buddhist monk since childhood; completed two traditional three-year retreats under the direction of Khyab-jé Kalu Rinpoche in Sonada, India; appointed Retreat Master of the first three-year retreat for Western students (founded by Kalu Rinpoche) at Kagyu Ling, France. After teaching three three-year retreats, 1976-1980, 1980-1983, 1984-1987, completed two personal five-year retreats in a private hermitage in Auvergne, and a seven-year retreat in les Landes, France. Tsadra Foundation contemplative fellow, supported from 2001 to 2014.
Ingrid Mcleod (Tsering Lhamo)
B.A. in Honors Psychology; completed two three-year retreats at Kagyu Ling, France 1976-1980, and 1980-1983; resident lama at Montreal Dharma Center 1985-1987, founding member and current assistant-director of Kalu Rinpoche’s International Translation Group. Tsadra Foundation Translation fellow from 2001 to 2008. Tsadra Foundation contemplative fellow, supported from 2009-2014.
Helena Blankleder
Degree in Modern Languages; professional translator; completed two three-year retreats at Chanteloube, France, 1980–1985 and 1986–1989; member of the Padmakara Translation Group, Dordogne, France. Tsadra Foundation fellow since 2001. Tsadra Foundation part-time contemplative fellow, supported 2013-2014.
GRANTEES
Pierre Goblet (Yétso)
Completed three-year retreat at Kagyu Ling, France, 1984-1987; and a supplemental one-year retreat at Vajradhara Ling, 1988-1989. For a number of years continued to alternate work with six-month individual retreats. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to continue retreats of long duration 2003-2009.
Eric Gregis
Completed three-year retreat at Kagyu Ling, France, 1988-1992. Since then has continued semi-retreat in a personal hermitage in the Jura, France. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to complete a personal three-year retreat, 2003-2006.
Adam Grela
Architect by training, completed three-year retreat at Kagyu Ling, France, 1988-1992. Subsequently, worked to assist the development of the Buddhist community in his home country, Poland. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to complete a second three-year retreat at Kagyu Ling, France, 2003-2006.
Joanna Grela
Completed three-year retreat at Kagyu Ling, France; 1988-1992. PhD in Buddhist Studies; taught at university in Poland, and worked to establish a Buddhist “seat” at the university, as well as helping the Buddhist community to develop. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to complete a second three-year retreat at Kagyu Ling, France, 2003-2006.
Kathryn Thompson
Student of Trungpa Rinpoche from 1971 in Vermont and Boulder; associated with Kalu Rinpoche center in Hawaii 1987-1989; student of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche since 1989; completed three-year retreat at Pema Osel Ling, California, 2000-2003. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee in order to continue retreat, 2004-2009.
Robert Thompson
Student of Trungpa Rinpoche from 1971 in Vermont and Boulder; associated with Kalu Rinpoche center in Hawaii 1987-1989; student of Lama Tharchin Rinpoche since 1989; completed three-year retreat at Pema Osel Ling, California, 2000-2003. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to continue retreat 2004-2009
Linda Errera
Psychologist by training; completed an individual three-year retreat in the Alps of Haute-Provence, France, 1999-2003. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to complete a second individual three-year retreat in Auvergne, France, 2004-2009.
Ryan Haag
Diploma of BFA in painting; fluent in Thai, ordained as a monk (for two years) and remained in retreat as a forest hermit in Thailand 1991-1992; completed three-year retreat at Pema Osel Ling, Santa Cruz, 1994-1998. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to complete a one-year retreat followed by a second three-year retreat with an eight-month extension at Pema Osel Ling, 2002-2008.
Luc Maillard
Completed an individual three-year retreat in the Alps of Haute-Provence, France, 1999-2003. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to complete a second individual three-year retreat and solitary retreat in Auvergne, France, 2004-2010.
Michael Broderick
Nurse by training; spent many years traveling to Southeast Asia in order to study and meditate, with two years spent meditating in retreat as a monk in Burma; completed three-year retreat at Pema Osel Ling, Santa Cruz, 2000-2004. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to complete a second three-year retreat with an eight-month extension at Pema Osel Ling, 2005-2008.
Richard Er-raach (Palden)
Monk since 1984; attendant for three-year retreat at Vajradhara Ling, France, 1984-1987; completed two years of retreat at Karma Ling, France, 1993-1994; completed three-year retreat at Kagyu Ling, France, 1998-2001. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported for one year of a second three-year retreat at Kagyu Ling, France, 2004-2005.
Stefan Graves
Student of Cultural Anthropology and American Literature; completed three-year retreat at Pema Osel Ling, Santa Cruz, 1992-1995. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to participate in parts of a second three-year retreat at Pema Osel Ling, 2005-2008.
Suzanne Hart
Masters degree in Community Development; Peace Corps volunteer in Malaysia; completed three-year retreat at Pema Osel Ling, Santa Cruz, 2001-2003. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to complete a second three-year retreat with an eight-month extension at Pema Osel Ling, 2005-2008.
Kathy Morrow
Masters degree in Clinical Psychology; practicing nurse and midwife; worked in refugee camps in Thailand and trained midwives in Kosovo; completed three-year retreat at Pema Osel Ling, Santa Cruz, 1994-1998. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to complete a second three-year retreat with an eight-month extension at Pema Osel Ling, 2005-2008.
Michelle Wong
Trained in Special Education; entered retreat at Pema Osel Ling, Santa Cruz, in 2004 and joined the three-year retreat that began in 2005. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to complete three-year retreat with an eight-month extension at Pema Osel Ling, 2007-2008.
Justin Walls
B.A. in Religion, English and Comparative Literature, Columbia University; completed three-year retreat at Kagyu Thubten Chöling, New York, 2003-2007. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to complete a second three-year retreat at Kagyu Thubten Chöling, 2008-2011.
Nadine Ménard
French Administrative Baccalaureate; photo-lab technician; student of Buddhism since 1997; received monastic vows from Tai Situ Rinpoche 2003. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to complete three-year retreat at Karmeling Retreat Center, Delhi, N.Y., 2008-2012.
Marie-Laure Jacquet
Trained and received diploma as ski instructor in France; resident of Karma Ling Buddhist Center, in Savoy, France; completed three-year retreat at Karma Ling, 1988-1992 and subsequently taught Buddhism and meditation; developed skill in the ritual arts, including thanka painting, and in 1998 moved to California; studied craniosacral therapy and became resident and worker at Pema Osel Ling, Santa Cruz. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to complete a second three-year retreat at Pema Osel Ling, 2009-2012.
Jérémi Plazas
Son of parents who had both completed three-year retreat; grew up as resident of Karma Ling, France; in 1998 moved to California and became resident of Pema Osel Ling, Santa Cruz. Completed three-year retreat with an eight-month extension at Pema Osel Ling, 2005-2008. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to complete a second three-year retreat at Pema Osel Ling, 2009-2012.
Frederico Trancoso
Trained in several health disciplines including physiotherapy, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine; student of Buddhism since 1994 studying with masters of a variety of Buddhist lineages; completed three-year retreat with an eight-month extension at Pema Osel Ling, Santa Cruz, 2005-2009. Tsadra Foundation contemplative grantee, supported to complete a second three-year retreat at Pema Osel Ling, 2009-2012.
THREE YEAR RETREAT CENTERS
Chanteloube
Chanteloube is the association regrouping several retreat centers established by Dudjom Rinpoche and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and placed under the direction of Pema Wangyal Rinpoche, in Dordogne, France. Traditional three-year retreats have been operating here since 1980. Retreats usually include a combination of first time retreatants and those who have already completed one or more three-year retreats.
Tsadra Foundation provided grant support for 9 individuals participating in the three-year retreat 2003-2007 and support for all participants of this retreat in need of support for a retreat extension of 9 months; provided partial or full grant support for 11 individuals in the three-year retreat 2008-2011.
Sukhasiddhi Foundation
Established in 1996 through the inspiration and blessing of Khyab-jé Kalu Rinpoche, Sukhasiddhi Foundation provides a vehicle for the teaching and practice of Vajrayana Buddhism in the west, emphasizing the attainment of enlightenment through the Vajrayana’s preliminary, development, and completion meditation practices.
To accommodate the aspirations of several women who wished to embark upon the traditional three-year retreat program, a temporary hermitage was established in Truckee, California, near Lake Tahoe. During the period 2002-2005 a three-year retreat was completed under the direction of Lama Palden Drolma and Lama Drupgyu Tenzin.
Tsadra Foundation provided partial support for two women retreatants for the last two years of their retreat, 2004-2005.
Le Bost (Ahet)
The Bost is the retreat center established by Lama Gendun Rinpoche in Auvergne, France. In the years since it has been established, the activity of the center and its retreats has flourished.
Tsadra Foundation provided grant support for approximately 15 individuals either in their second three-year retreat or in retreats of long duration during the period of 2000-2001.
Pema Osel Ling
Situated in the Santa Cruz mountains, Pema Osel Ling has a three-year retreat center that has been in operation for many years. In 2005 Lama Tharchin Rinpoche decided to begin a three-year retreat for advanced students, most of whom had already completed one three-year retreat, and to introduce them to a level of instructions that he had previously not made available. Some participants were supported as individual grantees by Tsadra Foundation (see list above).
At the completion of the three-year retreat, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche invited the group to remain for an eight-month retreat extension. Tsadra Foundation supported the full group of retreatants for this period July 2008 – February 2009.
