Yarne Retreat 2024
Bhikshuni Pema Chödrön will lead the traditional monastic retreat in 2024 featuring a curriculum based on The Mind Training in Eight Verses by Langri Thangpa. February 21 to April 9, 2024 We are able to accept a small number of lay practitioners to join us. Yarne is a rigorous intensive retreat, suitable for seasoned practitioners … Continue
Lobster Release July 2023
Each year at the end of the lobster season, the monastic and lay community of Gampo Abbey, with the financial support of many donors around the world, purchase the last catch of lobsters from Pleasant Bay lobster fisherman, Captain Mark Timmons, and release the caught lobsters back into the water. On July 6, 2023 we … Continue
Pema Chödrön on the lojong slogans of Atisha
Pema Chödrön has taught many times on the lojong slogans of Atisha. Her approach to the slogans is exemplified in the way she titles her book of commentaries on the slogans and her own slogan cards — The Compassion Cards: Teachings for Awakening the Heart Using an emphasis on compassion, for oneself and others, Ani … Continue
Pema Chödrön Reflects on the passing of Kyabje Thrangu Rinpoche, Abbot of Gampo Abbey.
Kyabje Thrangu Rinpoche and Pema Chödrön, circa 1993 Dear Noble Sangha: Gampo Abbey’s beloved Abbot Kyabje Thrangu Rinpoche was the greatest of masters. His vast mind and vast heart were always available. He was the kindest, most compassionate and wisest of teachers. Meeting him was like meeting the Buddha in person. Although I feel brokenhearted … Continue
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Abbot of Gampo Abbey passes into Parinirvana
Gampo Abbey is very sad to announce that our Abbot, the Venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, has passed into Parinirvana. Thrangu Rinpoche has been a guiding force in the history of Gampo Abbey. We join with all of his students and monasteries around the world to remember his kindness and great wisdom. Read more about his … Continue
The Practice of Failure
For several years now I’ve been asked, as Artist in Residence, to create the Losar cards (Lunar New Year) for Gampo Abbey.
Every year I go through a predictably uncomfortable creative process. Honestly, some years the failures pile up for so long that I have to laugh.
Have you ever wondered what ends up on the studio floor in the process?
Interview with previous resident David Morris
How does a residency at Gampo Abbey impact a resident and how does it ripple out into the world? read an interview with former resident David Morris where he discusses how his training at the Abbey has nourished his work as a chaplain.
Trinkar Ötso appointed Gampo Abbey Artist in Residence
In 2022, in recognition of her contribution to the Abbey community and to the many years of Losar cards, art salons, and workshops for residents, Trinkar Ötso has been honoured with the title Artist in Residence. Read an interview with Trinkar about her years of exploration of the intersection of contemplative practice and artmaking. See … Continue
Hurricane Fiona
Hurricane Fiona raged through Nova Scotia starting the night of September 23, 2022 and made landfall right at the southern tip of Cape Breton Island extending northward. We had plenty of warning – we lowered the flagpoles, checked the generators, secured the buildings and grounds, prepared stocks of filtered water and food, then waited. We are … Continue
Tsering Lhamo Gagye Eve Talk on Four Yogas of Mahamudra
We are delighted to share with you the transcripts of two of our Gagye Eve talks. These brief talks are given by our monastic community at the conclusion of our winter retreat as a means to share what the community has been contemplating during our period of silence and practice. The second of these talks … Continue
