KTTG Expresses its appreciation to outgoing director Zoe de Bray and welcomes new director Rene Evenson | Oct 25 2016, 1:06 PM |
KTTG is sad to say goodbye (again) to retiring director Zoe DeBray. She has been an inspiring leader, initiating many projects to maintain the stupa and grounds, growing KTTG into a stable organization, and last but not least, diligently working to find a qualified successor. Zoe says...
And KTTG is delighted to welcome Rene Evenson as our new director. We're very much looking forward to working with her --- she's already coming up to speed and making things happen.
We had a small celebration to thank Zoe and welcome Rene. In the photo, Zoe is seated on the chair, and Rene is standing to her left. |
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Meet Our Lifetime Retreatant | Jan 25 2015, 5:13 PM |
KTTG's Lifelong Retreatant, Mary Raftery, talks about her path and what led her to do a lifelong retreat at the Tashi Gomang Stupa. She is completely supported through donations and has no funds of her own. As of this year, she does receive a very tiny Social Security payment. Please consider supporting our lifetime retreatant who has been in retreat since 1990. Short Biography of My Dharma Pathby Mary RafteryI met Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche when he first came to the US in 1970. We met in Boston on the street near a park where hippies, runaways and young Vietnam vets were camping out. The war was raging in Vietnam and hard drugs were beginning to flood the streets. Rinpoche asked me if I would like to alleviate suffering and benefit beings. We became friends and formed a teacher/disciple relationship.
Later, during one of HH Karmapa 16th's visits to the west, I took bodhisattva vows with His Holiness and he asked if I would come to help at his center, KTD, in Woodstock, NY. After studying some more with Trungpa Rinpoche, in 1983 he said I should go and serve Karmapa. I moved to KTD in 1984.
At KTD I worked on staff in fundraising, washed a lot of dishes(!!) and eventually became Director of KTD, working closely with KTD President, Tenzin Chonyi. I arranged world tours for Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, Tai Situ and other Rinpoches. At that time we were blessed by visits from many Kagyu lineage holders who gave teachings and blessings, establishing their own centers in the West. I made a strong connection with our kind lineage masters and was honored to serve them.
While at KTD I studied primarily with Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche and also received guidance from Bardor Tulku Rinpoche at that time. I formed a teacher/disciple relation with HE Tia Situ Rinpoche and HE Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche as well.
During the time of Trungpa Rinpoche's parinirvana I went to Karma Choling to help prepare for his cremation. While there I formed a close bond with HH Dilgo Kheyntse Rinpoche, and worked closely with Lama Ganga who had been sent from Rumtek to help guide the preparations.
After the cremation, I returned to KTD and continued to work on the staff until I became ill. At that point (1990) I entered retreat at KTD and remained there for twelve years under the guidance of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche as retreat master and HE Tai Situ and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyatso Rinpoches. During that time, Tai Situ Rinpoche asked if I would like to do a lifelong retreat, which was Trungpa Rinpoche's wish. I was grateful and honored for the opportunity of doing a lifelong retreat, which I had wanted to do for many years.
The Rinpoches asked that I move to Crestone to do retreat near the stupa, which contains the relics of my spiritual masters who have passed away, as KTD was growing and Crestone is more remote and conducive to solitary retreat. While in retreat at the stupa, I have had the good fortune to receive guidance from Thrangu Ripoche. As part of my daily practice since beginning retreat here in 2005, I make offerings, do confession and aspiration prayers, and circumbulate the stupa reciting mantras.
I'm happy and feel most fortunate to be near the stupa in retreat. Having served and lived amidst the precious lineage masters, I long to be like them with their infinite compassion and wisdom. The wish to alleviate suffering and benefit sentient beings has never left my mind since Trungpa Rinpoche introduced me to that possibility many years ago.
Please visit our Donations Page if you would like to contribute to the support of our Lifetime Retreatant.
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New Home for Former Directors | Sep 10 2014, 12:23 PM |
We have news from our directors from 2013-14, Kelly and Sergey Noskov, who are now in a nice village just outside of Ulan Ude, Buryatia, Russia. They are buying a house which you can see here. Kelly says:
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KTTG Welcomes Zoe DeBray back as Director | May 25 2014, 8:33 AM |
KTTG welcomes back Zoe de Bray to her former position as director. The KTTG board unanimously voted to reinstate Zoe after a one year absence. The interim was covered admirably by Sergey and Kelly Noskov. Sergey is a traditional thangka painter and Kelly has been a Tibetan Buddhist nun. We thank them for their untiring service to KTTG and wish them success and happiness as they return to Russia, Sergey’s homeland. |
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Farewell letter from outgoing Director Jacquelyn Zoe de Bray | Jul 25 2013, 1:30 PM |
Zoe has resigned as director of KTTG. She has been a visionary, loving and hard-working leader for our small and diverse group. She will be deeply missed here in Crestone where she has not only accomplished many great acheivements for KTTG but has also forged deep bonds with the other spiritual centers and the entire community. Click on "Read More" to read Zoe's farewell letter. She is being replaced as director by the devoted and hardworking couple Sergey and Kelly Noskov. Watch this space for their introduction. Read More |
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Zoe's Earth Sadhana | Sep 30 2011, 10:30 AM |
Zoe wrote an Earth Sadhana for Earth Day, April 22, 2011. It has since been recited a few times, in a few ways. For instance in June, 2011 we combined energies with Universal Dances for Peace and danced the three parts of the sadhana with the mantras to Green Tara, Chenrezig and Medicine Buddha (see photos at Friends of Karmapa). The sadhana combines the three mantras that can be recited by anyone without a formal "lung" or empowerment. Click on "read more" to see the Earth Sadhana. Read More |