About the Designer
My interest in helping individuals with personal meditation or sacred spaces began when I volunteered in the gift store of the Tibetan Buddhist temple where I practiced. I was surprised at the number of people who came in asking about cushions, altars, and incense. Which is the best, which one should I buy, how do I setup an altar and is it necessary if I’m not a Buddhist. All good questions, but more surprising to me was that I realized after being an active Tibetan Buddhist practitioner for over ten years, I could actually help them by sharing advice I had received from our own Lama, and visiting Lamas from India, Tibet, Mongolia and Bhutan, and their attendants.
Many times these precious high Lama’s teach on subjects related to mind emptiness, meditation and how quieting the mind is so essential in this age of busy technology, where our lives move at a lightening pace without a break. They advise that having a spacious, quiet mind is so important to help our stress level, efficient thought processing and a quieting of our reactive emotions that often get us into trouble in our lives and can cause great suffering.
HOW CAN WE MAKE CHANGE
So there was a pivotal moment when I realized that many people talk about how they had taken meditation classes, but hadn’t followed through and were not engaging in any kind of regular practice. So why is that? And how might that change for those seeking that kind of peaceful centeredness in their lives? What could help them follow through with that dream?
At some point I asked the Lamas themselves: why do American’s find it so hard to meditate when they seem to truly want that peace, and even understand how profound it can be. The answer was: because they don’t have a dedicated meditation space in their home.
Not a place they have to travel to, not a weekly class they have to pay for, or find the time to get to, but a personal, peaceful oasis in their home that beckons them to potentially change their lives. A place that holds the peaceful energy, holds the space as special in their minds, and holds the intention to be well and happy: ultimately a better person in their hearts.
INSPIRATION LED THE WAY
Out of that intention to help others find a way to the peace that so many have found, and so many are seeking, I decided to create this blog. To offer my services helping others create a sacred space – no matter their faith – or lack of it – because meditation can put us in touch with our higher self – higher, simplier, quieter life.
So thank you to all those who asked questions in the store, and to all those who visit this site. Thank you for allowing me to share my small knowledge humbly and without attachment, but with the genuine desire to help, and the need to share. But mostly a thank you to H.H. Penor Rinpoche, for bringing these precious teachings into the world – Eh ma ho!
Sangdrol Blanchard
just another student of the dharma
In Training
For over the fifteen years Sangdrol volunteered as a member at Kunzang Palyul Changchub Chöling Tibetan Buddhist temple outside of Washington DC, helping prepare for visiting Lamas from far away places such as Tibet, India, Bhutan, Nepal and Mongolia. Over the years she also had the blessing, along with a small group of dedicated sangha, to prepare the residence and prayer space for these precious teachers. She was trained by the Lama’s attendants on what is appropriate, and what is disruptive in a residence and a prayer room, and from that began learning how to create a peaceful and sacred environment that is appropriate for meditation, practice and quiet contemplation.
Sangdrol prepared a well-received workshop titled “Choosing the Correct Meditation Cushion” at a health and wellness conference in the Washington DC area, which began a deep interest in helping individuals create sacred spaces in their own homes.
Becoming a Tibetan Buddhist
In 2005 Sangdrol first took refuge with His Eminence Chogtrul Mugsang Kuchen Rinpoche, the Heart Son of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, head of the great Palyul Ling International Monastery in Tibet. From HE Mugsang Rinpoche she received her Tibetan Buddhist refuge name of Sangye Drolma (Female Buddha), respectfully shortened to Sangdrol. While she has taken refuge with many other great masters, she continues to respect that name and first refuge ceremony event in her life. She had the honor to study and attend teachings and practices in the Maryland Palyul temple of KPC, and studied for 15 years under temple founder and Palyul Lineage Holder Her Eminence Tulku Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo Rinpoche along with the Venerable Khenpo Tenzin Norgay Rinpoche, founder of the Nyingma Palyul Dharma Center in New York City.
She has had the auspicious blessing of receiving empowerments and teachings from great masters of the Tibetan Palyul lineage such as HH Penor Rinpoche, and HH Karma Kuchen, as well as H.E. Chogtrul Khentrul Gyangkhang Rinpoche and many other great Buddhist teachers from other lineages such as the Kagyu including His Holiness the Dali Lama. She has studied ritual practice as a Chopin, and attended the Palyul Retreat for 12 years. Today, she continues to progress in her daily practice as given by the Venerable Khenpo Tenzin Norgay Rinpoche.
May all beings benefit and be free of suffering.