Photo: In the garden after our visit with Khenchen Rinpoche in 2025.
Who We Are as a Community
We are a Buddhist community dedicated to supporting the liberation of ourselves and all beings from the suffering of the human condition, and the profound opportunity of waking up to the potential of life.
Our teachings and practice come from the wellspring of Tibetan Buddhism, especially the Karma and Shangpa Kagyu lineages. We endeavor to teach the methods of awakening exactly as we received them, and yet to be respectful of the differences in time and culture.
All Buddhist practice offers profound tools for addressing suffering and its causes. While we value study and reflection, we know that profound change will not happen unless we bring our insights and joyful effort to daily life. Our tools are meditation—to see more clearly—and other practices that increase wisdom and compassion. Our emphasis is to take what we learn and implement it in everything we do.
We call our mode of engagement ‘village dharma.’ We know that a healthy community is a good support for a lifetime of practice, so we do our best to engage with transparency, accountability, and honest dialogue as we meet students at every stage of life and practice. We know that liberating ourselves from limiting or harmful lifelong patterns and habits will require patience and honesty, tenderness and perseverance, so we support each other as we go along.
We aspire that every sincere student has access to teachings and practice opportunities, regardless of financial circumstances or other barriers. We are grateful to volunteers and benefactors who help us do this.
Our Approach to Inclusivity
At Dekeling (day-kay-ling) we actively welcome people of diverse backgrounds, identities, ages and levels of experience with Buddhism. We’re not here to ask you to believe anything or join anything. You are encouraged to engage and then create your own relationship to Buddhism, its principles and practices.
If you’re new to Buddhism, consider joining us on a Monday evening. Beginner-level instructions are given and we meditate together for a little less than an hour (both in-person and on Zoom). After a tea break, we have a discussion, in which we encourage thoughtful questions and answers on any topic or experience related to dharma practice and its application to our lives. Our second and fourth Monday’s of each month at at Heart of Wisdom Temple. Every Monday evening is live-streamed.
In this way, we get to know each other, share our stories, and enrich each other’s lives. Together we set the stage for awakening. All are welcome.
Our Lineage
Dekeling is a meditation community whose practices are rooted in the 2600-year-old teachings of the Buddha, and flow from the Shangpa and Karma Kagyu traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. The foundation of our practice is nurtured by long-standing connection and guidance from beloved lineage holders, including Kalu Rinpoche, Bokar Rinpoche, and Khenchen Lodro Donyo Rinpoche, as well as decades of guidance from first-generation disciples of these great teachers. Our practice includes service, opportunities for in-depth study in traditional practices including lam-rim programs, ngöndro, yidam practice, secular skill-building and the rich array of rituals found in Tibetan Buddhism.
Our Teachers
Do not accept anything simply because it has been said by your teacher, or because it has been written in sacred books, or because it has been believed by many, or because it has been handed down by your ancestors.
Accept and live only according to what will enable you to see truth face to face
—Buddha, in the Kalama Sutra
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Lama Michael Conklin (Retired)
Root Teacher & Lineage Holder
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Lama Lekshe
Founding Teacher & Resident Lama
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George Draffan
Associate Teacher
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Peter Daishin Renner
Community Support & Pastoral Care
Our Board of Directors
Dekeling is a registered non-profit organization (ID# 83-1153823). To contact the Board of Directors, please email info@dekeling.community
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Lama Michael Conklin (Retired)
Root Teacher & Lineage Holder
-

Lama Lekshe
Founding Teacher & Resident Lama
-

George Draffan
Associate Teacher
-

Peter Daishin Renner
Community Support & Pastoral Care

