Our Resident Teacher

Elaine Jackson

Vajrapani Institute has been very fortunate in the great practitioners and teachers who have held the role of Resident Teacher, starting in the early days with Geshe Lobsang Gyatso and Geshe Wangdu. More recently, we’ve been blessed with Ven. René Feusi followed by Ven. Tenzin Chogkyi. We now welcome Elaine in this role. Elaine is loved by and well-known to our community. She was one of the founders of Vajrapani Institute. She served as its Director 2004-2009, and since then, in various roles helping us grow and serve the Dharma. She has been instrumental in the development of the center and its staff.

 

Elaine has been a student of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche since 1977. She has studied with many great masters including Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, Choden Rinpoche, Kirti Tsenchab Rinpoche and Ribur Rinpoche among others. She completed a three-year retreat in 2014. Since her retreat, she has been teaching at centers in the United States and abroad.

Upcoming Retreats

Green Tara Retreat

Yangsi Rinpoche

February 12 - 16, 2025
About the Retreat Meditating on Green Tara is a very powerful way to identify and connect with our own inner potential for wisdom and compassion. As the embodiment of all the Buddha’s actions in the female aspect, she has a special power to remove inner and outer obstacles, dispel our fears, and grant us success in whatever we pray for. This beneficial retreat will include plenty of time for practice, teachings, and questions.   We are overjoyed to welcome back the phenomenal Yangsi Rinpoche, who has graciously agreed to return to Vajrapani and lead a retreat on Green Tara. Rinpoche is known for his…

Vajrayogini Self Initiation

Venerable Angie Muir and Elaine Jackson

February 22, 2025
Vajrayogini Self Initiation - In the Main Gompa and Online   When: February 22, 2025- 1:00pm - 5:00pm (PT) Where: Venerable Angie Muir and Elaine Jackson will lead the Vajrayogini Self Initiation in person in the gompa or online via Zoom. If joining online,  feel free to make offerings on your personal alter. Please email the office at office@vajrapani.org to let us know if you will be coming in person.   Prerequisites: This practice is restricted to those who have completed a Vajrayogini approximation retreat with fire puja.   We will be using the text, The Intermediate Practices of Vajrayogini,…

Our Blog

  • Spring has officially arrived and with it a sense of renewal, a spark of hope. Trees are leafing and blossoming. So many wildflowers dot the hillsides. Bees are buzzing and early morning birds chatter like townsfolk exclaiming the beauty of this valley.  Living a quiet......

Vajrapani Institute is affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition www.FPMT.org