TNLSF.org: About TNLSF: Teachers & Administration

Teachers & Administration

Ms. Rowena Mayer — Center Director

Rowena Mayer first attended a talk by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1978 and was delighted by his marvelous sense of humor and sound practical advice. In 1981 she began taken teachings at Vajrapani Institute, an FPMT center in Boulder Creek, California. Since then she has taken other teachings and initiations from Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, one of Lama Zopa Rinpoche's teachers, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche, Ribur Rinpoche, Lati Rinpoche, Geshe Tsephel, Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen, Geshe Sopa, Geshe Thubten Sherab, Ven. Connie Miller, and others. She considers the teachings offered through the great kindness of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche and their FPMT centers a most precious opportunity to spread the Dharma and maintain its traditions.

Mr. Don Handrick — Resident Teacher

Don is the resident teacher at TNL and he also teaches for the FPMT at the Ksitigarbha Tibetan Buddhist Center in Taos. In December of 2004, he completed the FPMT's Masters Program of Buddhist Studies in Sutra and Tantra, a full-time seven-year residential study program in Tuscany, Italy, taught by Geshe Jampa Gyatso. In his sixteen years as a Buddhist practitioner Don has also received teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and many other teachers of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

Mr. Claudio Ruben — Assistant Director

Claudio Ruben joined Thubten Norbu Ling in July 2003. After joining TNL, he was surprised to discover that the Center was connected to the Kopan Monastery, in Kathmandu, Nepal, where he had spent a week studying Buddhism nine years earlier in the summer of 1994. "Karma works in mysterious ways," he says about this interesting synchronicity.

He is the assistant Director of Thubten Norbu Ling, and leads Vajrasattva & Lama Tzong Khapa Guru Yoga practices at the Center. Originally born in Milan, Italy, he is a graduate of McGill University, in Montreal, and King's College London. He currently works on the production of national and regional commercials, and is Co-Founder & Co-Director of the Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival.