All About Us
Mahasiddha Kadampa Buddhist Center (MKBC), a member of the New Kadampa Tradition, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, volunteer-run meditation center, founded by meditation master Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. The Center is dedicated to the happiness and freedom from suffering of every living being. We’ve been in Portland since 1997.
Anyone can uncover their potential for happiness and freedom from suffering. The emphasis in Kadampa Buddhism is to practice with everything that arises in busy modern life. You don’t need to be a Buddhist to attend classes; everyone is welcome! In addition to our drop in General Program classes (click here to see drop-in classes), we also offer day courses, retreats, and chanted prayers, as well as in-depth study programs for those wishing to delve more deeply into Buddha’s teachings
You can learn more about Modern Kadampa Buddhism here.
Our qualified teachers
Our Resident Teacher, Kadam Heather Rocklin
Kadam Heather Rocklin has been a disciple of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso since March 1998. A working mother of a 10-year-old, Kadam Heather shares Buddha’s teachings with great warmth and kindness, showing how Buddha’s teachings are practical in everyday life and beneficial for everyone! Kadam Heather has been the Resident Teacher of Mahasiddha Kadampa Buddhist Center in Portland since 2006.
Our Teachers
Ingrid
Padgalskas
Ingrid met the Dharma in 2010. Curious in general about Buddhism back then, she’d searched Google for Buddhist centers in the Portland area, found the Mahasiddha Center, and came to a Sunday class. “This is home,” was how she said she felt that morning. She’s been coming ever since.
Ingrid is our Education Program Coordinator (EPC) and teaches our Kids Class and is a substitute teacher in Portland.
Susan
de la Vergne
Susan has been studying and practicing Kadampa Buddhism since 2011 and began teaching in 2015. A student in our Teacher Training Program, Susan is appreciated for her stories, humor, and practical advice, helping students put Dharma teachings into practice in their daily lives.
James
Jacoby
James Jacoby discovered Kadampa Buddhism in 2016. He is constantly inspired by the sincerity and simplicity of Buddha’s teachings. Currently he is on the Teacher Training Program. James brings humor and clarity to his heartfelt teachings.
Kathia
Rabelo
Kathia has been studying and practicing Buddhism since 1997 and has been teaching for over 20 years, both here in Portland and in Los Angeles. She teaches Dharma with warmth, insight, and a sense of humor and leaves her students with advice they can put into practice right away.
