Explore Colleen’s spiritual journey from Catholic roots to Buddhist refuge, meditation, Ngondro practice, and her calling as a death doula.

Rigzin's journey into Tibetan Buddhism began through art but became a lifelong commitment after encountering the Dharma in Bodh Gaya. Through years of retreat, devotion to lineage, and the guidance of authentic teachers, she has integrated Buddhist practice into every aspect of life. Her story explores the transformative power of refuge, disciplined practice, impermanence, and the union of creativity and the Dharma, offering a compelling portrait of Buddhism lived beyond the meditation cushion.

Clare's journey into Vajrayana Buddhism began with a simple yet profound encounter—a single image of Green Tara that awakened a lifelong calling. Drawn first through yoga and later into Tibetan Buddhism, she discovered that Vajrayana was far more than meditation or philosophy. It was a living lineage, connecting practitioners across generations through authentic transmission, devoted practice, and the guidance of realized teachers. For Clare, visualization, mantra, and ritual are not symbolic acts but transformative methods that cultivate wisdom, compassion, and the recognition of one's innate Buddha nature. Her story explores why lineage matters, how authentic teachers shape the path, and how the Dharma becomes embodied in everyday life through courage, humility, and devotion.

Raised in a Presbyterian Christian family, Elinore spent decades searching for a spiritual path that could unite faith with lived experience. Her journey led her through meditation, Sikh teachings, and ultimately to Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism, where she discovered a path rooted in personal transformation rather than belief alone. Through practices such as Ngöndro, visualization, guru yoga, and Vajrasattva purification, she learned to transform pride into humility, guilt into responsibility, and grief into compassion. Today, Elinore views death, karma, and rebirth not as abstract doctrines, but as practical teachings that inspire a life of wisdom, service, and profound interconnectedness. Her story offers a thoughtful perspective for anyone exploring the relationship between Christianity and Buddhism, the power of authentic lineage, and the transformative potential of dedicated practice.

What happens when a lifelong search for truth through science reaches its limits? For Ben, the answer came through Buddhism. Raised in a Christian family and trained as an engineer, he spent years searching for a unified explanation of reality through physics and material science before discovering that the deepest questions couldn't be answered by equations alone. Everything changed when he encountered Buddhist philosophy and later met his Vajrayana teacher, transforming an intellectual search into a lived path of practice. In this interview, Ben shares how his analytical mindset found a natural home in Buddhism, which he describes as a science of the mind grounded in direct experience rather than belief. He explores the importance of authentic lineage, the transformative power of Ngöndro, and why lasting freedom comes through disciplined practice rather than collecting spiritual experiences. His story offers a compelling perspective for seekers, scientists, meditators, and anyone searching for a practical path to wisdom in the modern world.

Beginning a Buddhist practice can feel overwhelming, but Bryn offers a refreshingly practical perspective. After years of spiritual exploration, she discovered that lasting transformation doesn't come from mastering countless teachings—it comes from showing up consistently. In this intimate interview, Bryn shares why five minutes of daily practice is enough to begin, why Sangha is essential for long-term growth, and how remaining open to different teachings allows the path to unfold naturally. Her story reminds us that Buddhism isn't about perfection or collecting knowledge; it's about cultivating awareness one day at a time. Through honesty, patience, and community, Bryn demonstrates that the Buddhist path is accessible to anyone willing to take the first step.

Pema resides in Madison, Wisconsin, and is an integral part of Joyful Path Meditation and Healing Center, affiliated with the White Conch Dharma Center. Engaged in both lay and monastic practices, Pema plays diverse roles within the organization, serving as a chaplain, Dharma teacher in training, and a listener for spiritual queries.

Those years were deeply involved with meditation in the path of Raja Yoga, studying the interface of psychology and spirituality, religious symbolism, and raising my fantastic children. In the 90’s, I met a remarkable Canadian born nun, Cecilia Kwiat, and began the ever unfolding process of study, contemplation, and meditation in Buddhism, especially Tibetan Buddhism.

But same time they said, well, Shambala is having a level 1/2 Trump came up with the very. Yeah actually in retrospect a really clever way to to get past the overemphasis of the religion part of it and really just give us the tools to become own meditation instructor.

Tibetan Buddhism resonates so strongly with me firstly, because of karma. It is well known to me from past lives and now I am remembering. So it is very dear to me and has stirred deep emotion from my first exposure. I think it is probably this way with most practitioners, once it grabs a hold of you, it’s like welcoming a dear old friend back into your life after a long absence.