GAMPO ABBEY: Introduction  -  Our Abbot, the Venerable Kenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
  Memorial on the Role of Gampo Abbey and the Monastic Traditiona Within the Kingdom of Shambhala
The Role in the Shambhala World - Monasticism: Theory and Practice
Shambhala Monasticism: Excerpts from an Audience with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
Senior Monastics and Staff of Gampo Abbey - Abbey Road, A History

Senior Monastics and Staff at Gampo Abbey Ani Migme Chödron (Thelma Habgood), PhD in Organic Chemistry, was born in Ottawa in 1924, worked in the Chemistry and Archaeology Depts of the Univ. of Alberta, founded and co-ordinated the Edmonton Dharmadhatu from 1975 to 1984 before becoming a permanent resident at Gampo Abbey in 1988. A former student of Trungpa Rinpoche and now of Thrangu Rinpoche, she was ordained bhikshuni in 1994 in the Vietnamese Buddhist tradition, completed a Three year Retreat and, during the late 80’s and 90’s, gave a number of teachings at Edmonton Dharmadhatu. She taught the Vinaya from 1999 until 2003 and has built up Gampo Abbey’s extensive Buddhist library. She has completed major translations from French into English: Asanga’s Abhidharmasamuccaya and Mahayanasamgrah, Hsiuan Tsang’s Vijhaptimatratasiddhi, Nagarjuna/Kumarajiva’s Mahaprajnaparamitasastra, among others. She is a senior monastic in residence conducting liturgical ceremonies and a meditation instructor. Born in Germany, graduated in Educational Sciences, Lodrö Sangpo moved to Gampo Abbey In 1985 and received Gelong ordination in 87 with Jamgön Kongtrül Rinpoche. From 90 to 96, he attended the first traditional Three Year Retreat at Söpa Chöling and functioned as Acting Director of Gampo Abbey in the off-sessions. In 1996, he helped to start Nitartha Institute. In January 1999, he began his Four Year Study Retreat and, at the same time, helped to get the Vidyadhara Institute going by teaching regular courses. At present, Lodrö Sangpo is reviewing his translation work of Vasubandhu’s Abhidharmakoshabhashya based on Louis de La Vallée Poussins’ scholarly master work and also his translation of Erich Frauwallner’s The Philosophy of Buddhism under the supervision of Professor Ernst Steinkellner (Vienna). Born in Montreal, Ani Lodrö (Danièle Lamoureux), was an a ctive member of the Montreal Shamhala Center for 13 years. She was also involved as a community organizer in poor neighbourhoods in Montreal. She received full ordination in 2004. Graduate of Gampo Abbey’s Shedra, she has been involved since then as coordinator and teacher. In the last years, she also contributed to establish and implement the monastic training program. Ani Lodrö teaches both in French and English. She is a member of Gampo’s Abbey Translation Committee (Chökyi Gytaso). She has completed the first year of the 3-year retreat and will return for the second phase in Fall 2007.         Susan Gillis Chapman grew up in Vancouver and was introduced to meditation as a student at the Convent of the Sacred Heart. She took refuge with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, her root guru, in 1974. In 1988 she moved with her son from Boulder to Juneau, married Jerry Chapman and started a Shambhala Center there. She received a M.A. in Buddhist and Western Psychology at Naropa Institute and worked as a therapist and administrator until moving to the Abbey in 1997. She completed the Three Year Retreat at Gampo Abbey in 2002 and has been the druppon (retreat leader) at Sopa Choling since that time. Jerry Chapman was introduced to meditation practice, at age 5, by his Rosicrucian grandmother and became a Buddhist at 19. Raised in Juneau, Alaska, trained in Forestry, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service and then as counselor in addiction services. With his root guru, Chagdud Rinpoche’s blessings, he joined the Shambhala Sangha in 1988 and co-founded the Juneau Shambhala Center. He has completed the Three Year Retreat and Gampo Abbey’s Shedra Program. He joined the staff in 2002 and is now Head of Practice and Study. Teaching, Lead Meditation Instructor, and providing meditation instruction to people who use the solitary retreat cabins are part of his responsibilities. Jerry also assists, when needed, in Gampo Abbey’s “Three Year Retreat” Center, Sopa Choling.