Some of the Northwest Buddhist teachers who attended the 2011 Buddhist Teachers Council meeting in Garrison, NY, June 8 - 11. Standing, left to right: Jan Chozen Bays, Robert Beatty, Jacqueline Mandell, Jerry Braza. Seated, foreground: Hogen Bays.
NW Faces at “Maha Teachers Conference”
In keeping with the Buddha’s injunction that members of the Sangha should gather together regularly to maintain a harmonious community and healthy practice, organizers of the 2011 Buddhist Teachers Council meeting brought together close to 250 senior dharma teachers from Europe and North America in early June. The three-day gathering took place at the Hudson River estate of the Garrison Institute in Garrison, New York and was by invitation only.
Among the senior Northwest teachers invited were Chozen and Hogen Bays, Robert Beatty, Jerry Braza, Ven. Thubten Chodron, Greg Kramer, Joel and Michelle Levey, Jacqueline Mandell, Adrianne Ross, and Rodney Smith.
One of the intended outcomes of the conference was “to deepen friendships and collegiality across traditions”. Another was to develop a deep sense of connection, nourishment and value.
All would agree that feelings of warmth, friendship and expansive loving-kindness filled the conference. A great camaraderie amongst the teachers in attendance was palpable.
Contributor: Jacqueline Mandell.
Photo: Courtesy of Jacqueline Mandell.