This lecture series showcases the rich dharma heritage of our extended dharma family. It will do so by inviting speakers all of whom began their Buddhist path within the 

 community and who then continued their path in a variety of different ways.

Join Andy Karr and Joanne Burgess, in this talk for a discussion on Khenpo Tsultrim Gyatso Rinpoche.

Andy Karr on Profound Continuity - Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche and Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche 

After a brief encounter at the Kalapa Court in Boulder in 1986, Trungpa Rinpoche approvingly declared that Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche was, “More yogi than khenpo.” Five years later, Khenpo Rinpoche began an extraordinary fifteen-year tour, teaching Trungpa Rinpoche’s students the most profound Kagyu dharma at intensive retreats, seminars, and public talks at Shambhala centers around the world.

Andy first saw Khenpo Rinpoche teach in Halifax in 1992. He will give a student’s eye view of the vast activity of Khenpo Rinpoche within the mandala of Trungpa Rinpoche.

Joanne Burgess on Socially Engaged Buddhism: 

Khenpo Rinpoche and his nuns have changed the face of monasticism in India, Bhutan and Nepal. 


In 1996 Khenpo Rinpoche said to me, “Now that the nuns are no longer living in isolation in Tibet, they will need a secular education as well as a sacred education and I want you to be their teacher.” So began my journey with the nuns. The first class session took place in a tin shed in Yolmo, a valley in the Himalayan mountains, close to the border of Tibet, where Padmasambhava and Milarepa are said to have meditated. Now, more than 25 years later, nuns are graduating with high school diplomas from Shree Mangal Dvip (Thrangu Rinpoche’s boarding school in Nepal) and goin back to manage their monasteries. These well educated nuns are also helping to change the condition of women throughout Asia.

Noble Sons & Daughters Series


Over the course of 2024, join more than twenty individuals who began their Buddhist path as students of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, or within the Vajradhatu / Shambhala community, and who have continued walking the path of dharma in an amazing variety of ways.

Guest speakers will describe how they entered the path, how they continued their dharma training (within or without the Vajradhatu / Shambhala organization), what teachers they have studied with, and what kinds of training they sought. They will also speak about what aspects of the dharma they have been emphasizing in their own roles as students and/or teachers and will leave ample time for questions and discussion.

Through this sharing of experiences, participants can explore the richness of our greater Vajradhatu / Shambhala extended dharma family, learn more about close teachers and other thriving dharma communities.

Sons & Daughters of Noble Family

Lecture Series: Sons & Daughters of Noble Family

Andy Karr has practiced and studied the dharma for over fifty years under the guidance of such great masters as Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. He is the author of "Into the Mirror: A Buddhist Journey Through Mind, Matter, and the Nature of Reality" and "Contemplating Reality," and the coauthor of "The Practice of Contemplative Photography: Seeing the World With Fresh Eyes."


Joanne trained for 10 years in Boulder, CO in Buddhism and Shambhala philosophy and practice with the Vidyadhara Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and then continued her training at Marpa Institute in Nepal, founded by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, as well as at Nitartha Institute, founded by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. She was the videographer for Khenpo Rinpoche's 13 year cycle of teachings at Karme Choling. In December 2023, Joanne completed a three-year study course of Sanskrit at Rangjung Yeshe Institute in Nepal.

From 1996 for about 10 years, she lived in Nepal five-months of the year, working with Khenpo Rinpoche's nuns as their English, math, science and social studies teacher. Under Khenpo Rinpoche's guidance she helped establish a school at the nunnery in Nepal, and encouraged the nuns in Bhutan to go to the village school for education as Khenpo Rinpoche clearly saw that the nuns were going to need a secular as well as a sacred education to live in the modern world.

When Khenpo Rinpoche was no longer able to travel, Joanne helped create the Nun Sponsorship Program under Marpa Foundation. She managed it for 10 years, providing support for over 280 nuns in Nepal and Bhutan. The Nun Sponsorship Program also sponsors nuns to go to Thrangu Rinpoche's school Shri Mangal Dvip in Nepal for further education as well as helps the nuns in Bhutan study in their shedra.

Joanne resides in New York City and Nepal. She is a retired entrepreneur. She built a computer consulting company, called Burgess Software & Systems, Inc in NYC.