A message from The Wisdom Seat Board of Directors

Like all things, The Wisdom Seat is ever-changing, and we are writing today to start a dialogue with you, our community, about how we can best shape our organization to serve our precious sangha in the years ahead. Whether you consider Wisdom Seat your sangha, donate time or funds, come to events, or simply read our newsletter, we consider you to be part of The Wisdom Seat community, and we want to hear your voice. We will be soliciting your opinions and ideas in the weeks to come.

We on the Board have spent some time getting clarity on what The Wisdom Seat is, and we see that our community runs the gamut in terms of what The Wisdom Seat means to them. As an organization, we seek to cultivate a vibrant Buddhist community that integrates authentic lineage teachings into everyday life by providing connection to trusted and reliable Buddhist teachers, teachings, and practices for all who are interested, regardless of background.  Our aim isn’t to transform The Wisdom Seat into something else, but rather, by asking for your thoughts, we hope to do all we can to cultivate as vibrant and versatile a resource as possible.  

For anyone new to The Wisdom Seat, here’s a quick retrospective of what’s happened over the years and what’s happening right now. The growth of The Wisdom Seat has been organic, yet intentional.  The founders of The Wisdom Seat (who now comprise the Lerwa Council – Michael Carroll, Matt DiRodio, Alison Driscoll and Richard Driscoll) responded to a need for hosting Rinpoches and high lamas, with a skill that had been taught through years of training with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.  Visiting teachers remark upon the relaxed and profound atmosphere when they are hosted by The Wisdom Seat, and note the precision and discipline that is laced with a good dose of humor. Michael Carroll provides a cornerstone of wisdom, compassion and humor that has blossomed into some of our most successful course offerings, touching people around the world. Jacqui Merrill and Matt DiRodio have created a community through their Wednesday night meditation offering, and continuing in the tradition of Trungpa Rinpoche, Matt formed and energized the monthly Nyinthuns, which continue robustly despite Matt having being away on 3 year retreat.  We responded to the need for meditation instructors and now have a host of us who are available for meditation support from a beginner level to very advanced.  

The physical home of The Wisdom Seat is Pawo Khandro Ling in Media PA, so that in keeping with our householder tradition we have a place to practice and come together. In keeping with our contemplative focus, we offer a practice-intensive 8 Day Fall retreat at the monastery, Karma Triyana Darmachakra in Woodstock, and offer scholarships so anyone who wishes to join won’t be turned away. Most recently with the significant support of our now Board President Bill Moriarty, other Board members and our community, we host podcasts, zoom gatherings and specialty classes with visiting teachers and members of our community. 

As an entirely volunteer organization, all of this and more is made possible by people who offer their skills and generosity for local events, fun parties, and technical support—without which none of this would happen, including this newsletter!

So now we want to hear from you, and we’ll do that primarily in the form of a survey.  Is there something you yearn for in a sangha that hasn’t yet been developed? Would you like more opportunities to be together with your sangha in real life? Are you looking for opportunities to volunteer? Are there special skills or interests you have that you’d like to offer, or some that you would like to learn?  We are a community of householders – that means we are not only spending time on our cushions, but we live lives that benefit from connection, and this collection of teachers and practitioners provides an opportunity to enrich the fabric of our lives with wisdom and compassion, not to mention friendships, laughter and fun.  

Keep an eye out – you’ll be hearing from us soon! 

Warmly, 

The Wisdom Seat Board of Directors