The Kalapa Court is pleased to announce that the Sakyong, Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche, has appointed Mr. Richard Haspray as the new Director of Gampo Abbey and Ms. Alice Haspray as the Abbey’s Shastri-in-Residence, starting 1 October 2013.
The Hasprays are among the earliest founding members of the Shambhala community, having been students of the Vidyadhara the Venerable Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche from his early days of presenting the dharma in North America and co-directors of Rocky Mountain Dharma Center (today known as Shambhala Mountain Center).
They first met Trungpa Rinpoche when they were students of the renowned Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. At Rinpoche’s request they spent a year practicing and studying at Tassajara Zen Mountain Monastery. They are widely travelled and much appreciated teachers and leaders in our global mandala. As well as being Shastri-in-Residence at Gampo Abbey, Alice will continue teaching in other places and working with Shambhala groups in Nova Scotia — particularly those on Cape Breton Island, Antigonish, and Nova Scotia’s South Shore.
The appointment of Richard and Alice Haspray to these positions follows the recommendations of the Gampo Acharya Ani Pema Chodron, the Leadership Council and monastic Elders of Gampo Abbey to the Sakyong.
The outgoing director, Ms. Barbara Badessi, who has been at Gampo Abbey since October 2010, will be returning to Halifax, where she served previously as the Manager of Community Development at the Halifax Shambhala Centre. Over the past three years, she has worked with the leadership and community of Gampo Abbey with much dedication and warmth and has been deeply appreciated.
Please join us in expressing appreciation for these Shambhala warriors and in sending them every good wish.