RETREAT WITH THE MEDICINE BUDDHA

Ven. Lobsang Gyelse

“Ever since I was a young girl I wanted two things: to make others happy, and to know why I came into this world–what was my purpose and what was I supposed to do with this life?”

Venerable Lobsang Gyelse has studied Tibetan Buddhism for over 30 years with many of the great Tibetan masters. Her main teacher is Geshe Michael Roach.

For the last 20-plus years she’s been involved in the development and support of Diamond Mountain Retreat Center in southeastern Arizona. At Diamond Mountain, she has worn many hats, including that of operations manager, volunteer coordinator, and teacher. At present she is the Diamond Mountain Board president.

Venerable Gyelse completed a three-year, three-month, three-day silent meditation retreat in 2014 at Diamond Mountain with 28 others; she has completed many other solitary retreats as well.

She was ordained as a nun in the winter of 2006 and is the mother of a grown son. She is currently engaged in building a house in central Arizona near Geshe Michael and the Sedona College of International Management. Venerable Gyelse is a chaplain/spiritual care provider and counsels people around the world.

Ven. Sunam Hlamo

“Happiness is when the bass starts to play” – isn’t this the perfect life theme for an ordained nun?”

Venerable Sunam is passionate and joyful in everything she does and mixes “rock ’n’ roll” with a touch of German efficiency. She is a licensed veterinarian, successful IT project/program manager, and has worked as a database specialist for international projects. As director she goes above and beyond to create a remarkable retreat experience for guests and retreat producers.

After decades of chasing her own happiness with egoism, hazardous sports, lots of work and not getting anywhere, Ven. Sunam discovered Dharma in 2005 by reading the Diamond Cutter by Geshe Michael Roach. Ever since she has been studying, teaching, and translating ancient texts with joy and happiness, transforming herself into a kinder person. She is also a certified Sivananda yoga teacher since 2004.

She fell in love with Diamond Mountain and the desert during her first visit in 2014 and has the passion to preserve the silence, nature, and magic of this exceptional place while transforming it into “the retreat” place for modern time.

Through applying the principles in my life: become a much happier person, be able to work part time in a management position, time & money to travel the world to attend teachings, having deeper fulfilling relationships with people, a loving relationship with my family esp. my mother after decades of tension.