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

Online Book Club – Vol 4: Following in the Buddha’s Footsteps

Venerable Gyalten Chimé

May 8 - June 26, 2024
When On Zoom Every Wednesday for 8 weeks 6:30 - 8:30pm Pacific Time Zoom Link will be sent a day before the Wednesday night class.     Prerequisites: None – Open to all students   It is recommended that participants read the first few chapters prior to the first Book Club session on May 8th.   About the Book This weekly online book gathering will feature facilitated conversation, discussion and meditation sessions with Buddhist monastic Venerable Chimé.   Delve into the substance of spiritual practice in this fourth volume of the Dalai Lama’s definitive series on the path to awakening,…

Weekend with H.E. Ling Rinpoche

His Eminence the 7th Kyabje Yongzin Ling Rinpoche

May 25 - 26, 2024
The FPMT Bay Area Centers: Land of Medicine Buddha, Ocean of Compassion, Tse Chen Ling, and Vajrapani Institute, are honored to announce a precious weekend with His Eminence Yongzin Ling Rinpoche!   Venue School of Arts & Culture: Mexican Heritage Plaza, San Jose, CA   Saturday, May 25 Teaching on the Foundation of All Good Qualities (In-Person and online via Zoom)   Sunday, May 26 1,000-Armed Chenrezig Initiation (In-Person only - per H.E. Ling Rinpoche's request)   How to Register Admission to both teachings and initiation is free of charge, based on the generosity of donations and sponsors. Make sure…

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