Visiting Teachers

On Sunday, November 9, 2025, The Wisdom Seat welcomed over 60 guests to the Swarthmore Friends Meeting House for an unforgettable premiere of "Journey to Golok: Takyak Pilgrimage." The event brought together dharma practitioners, curious seekers, and members of the local community for an evening that bridged continents and centuries of spiritual wisdom. Renowned Tibetan Buddhist teacher Anam Thubten opened the evening with a heartfelt introduction, sharing personal memories o

A Mindful Gathering with Bill Moriarty and Carolyn Gimian

We were honored to host Laura Kaufman for an enriching day of Mahamudra practice and teachings at Pawo Khandro Ling. The event brought together fifteen practitioners eager to deepen their understanding of this profound meditation lineage of the Karma Kagyu tradition. Laura, who brings over 50 years of Buddhist meditation experience, shared invaluable insights from her extensive training with renowned teachers including Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoch

We were honored to host Anam Thubten for a weekend of activities.

We were honored to receive teachings from Venerable Tenzin Dasel live and via zoom at The Wisdom Seat on April 14-15, 2023. Watch the public talk here: Tsunma-la began by sharing some of the seminal events in her early childhood and adult life that led to her becoming a nun in mid-life. First was a fortuitous encounter with the person who became her root lama, HE Kyabje Khensur Rinpoche, and later, an auspicious meeting with one of the most dedicated western nuns of our time,

Our Wisdom Seat Author Series continued with Khentrul Lodro Thaye Rinpoche’s The Power of Mind.

For the first The Wisdom Seat Author Series offerings, we studied Anam Thubten's book Into the Haunted Ground. 63 members of our community joined, and Anam Thubten joined the group on the fourth evening to discuss the book. This author series was hosted by Michael Carroll, Matt Dirodio, and Geoff Matis. Those wishing to see the recorded discussions can join the recorded online program here . Anam Thubten’s new book invites us to explore the “haunted grounds” of our minds whe

We were honored to host Khentrul Lodro Thaye Rinpoche over the extended Labor Day weekend of 2022.

Women, Wisdom and The Buddhist Path The awakening of feminine energy in modern times Feminine wisdom or prajnaparamita in Sanskrit is considered the very foundation of all the teachings and practice lineages of the Buddha. You might say that such feminine wisdom is the very heart of awakening, offering us insight into our mind, reality and our relationship to the world around us. But how can the prajnaparamita teachings help us engage the challenges of the modern world – espe

Resting in the True Nature of Mind: Essential Meditation Instructions Commentary on a text by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche In 2019, we were deeply honored to host Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche for a special teaching event in the Swarthmore Friends Meeting house. This rare visit from one of Tibetan Buddhism's most respected teachers included a public talk, reception, and a tour of historic Philadelphia. Essential Meditation Instructions Rinpoche presented a profound teaching titled " Res

Intelligent Heart Devotion in the Buddhist Path October 5, 2019 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Whittier Room at Swarthmore Quaker Meeting. The Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana path emphasizes devotion where the relationship between the student & the teacher grows throughout the entirety of the path cultivating compassion, wisdom and ultimately enlightenment. Yet, such devotion is well beyond blind faith or celebrity worship where the student and teacher share a deep appreciation of lineage and

We were honored Changling Rinpoche joined us in our new shrine room for three days of instruction. August 16, 17, & 18, 2019 Becoming familiar with primordial purity A fundamental meditative discipline of the Mahamudra-Dzogchen tradition is Shiné Lhathong – Calm abiding – clear seeing. Through this style of meditation, the practitioner loosens the grip of neurotic clinging, recognizes the nature of mind and gradually becomes familiar with the inherent wakefulness of being a f

Ground, Path & Fruition of Mahamudra An introduction to the vajra assembly teachings of Vidyadhara, Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche With Judy Lief and Derek Kolleeny April 5-7, 2019 Wallingford, Pa Designed for new ngöndro practitioners in the lineage of Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche, this gathering followed in the tradition started in 1976 when the Vidyadhara introduced a series of programs restricted to ngöndro practitioners and tantrikas, called “Vajra Assemblies.” The Vidyadhara’s

The wisdom of meditation in everyday life. We were honored to Anam Thubten for a public talk on April 1, 2019. How can a regular meditation practice reveal our lives as inherently joyful, compassionate and sacred? Join Anam Thubten for a session of meditation and a discussion on how such a simple act can offer profound wisdom in the midst of our modem day lives.

We were pleased to host Phakchok Rinpoche and Erric Solomon for several days in November, 2018. 11/3/2018 Philadelphia Ethical Society, Philadelphia, PA We presented a talk and book signing at the Philadelphia Ethical Society for their book, Radically Happy . We also helped with their events at two local universities.

We were honored to host Anam Thubten for a talk entitled “Three Aspects of Meditation.” Philadelphia Ethical Society in Philadelphia, PA

Swarthmore Friends Meeting House. Swarthmore, PA We were honored to host Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche in May of 2018 for a talk at Swarthmore College and a reception. Rinpoche presented teachings from his new book: Training in Tenderness: Buddhist Teachings on Tsewa, the Radical Openness of Heart That Can Change the World.

“Buddhism for the 21st Century” April 28, 2017 Swarthmore College Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche is acknowledged as one of the foremost scholars and meditation masters of his generation in the Nyingma and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism and is a widely celebrated Buddhist teacher. The author of “Emotional Rescue”, “Rebel Buddha”, and other books, Rinpoche is a poet, photographer, accomplished calligrapher and visual artist and is the founder, president, and spiritual director of

We were honored to host a teaching by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche entitled “Four Dharmas of Gampopa.” Swarthmore Friends Meeting House, Swarthmore, PA

We were delighted to present “The Buddha’s wisdom in a modern world, an evening teaching with Sangngag Rinpoche.” Pendle Hill, Wallingford, PA