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.

Checkout what's Coming Up

May 2025
Wishfulfilling Jewel

Portland | Wishfulfilling Jewel with Tsog Offering

Please join us for prayers and requests to the wisdom Buddha Je Tsongkhapa combined with offerings to the protector Buddha Dorje Shugden. If you would like to add someone to our prayer list for someone experiencing illness or who recently died, please contact us.
Tue May 20
5:00 pm - 6:15 pm
Portland | Mahasiddha Kadampa Buddhist Center
9498 SW Barbur Blvd #101, Portland, OR 97219
like a diamond

Beaverton | Like a Diamond

Like a Diamond If you cut a diamond into small pieces, each piece is valuable. Buddha’s teachings are like that. Practicing all of them together, the whole diamond, is great but can seem like a lot. Practicing just some of the teachings, smaller pieces of the gem, is also very worthwhile! In this course, we’ll […]
Tue May 20
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Park Plaza West - Building 3
10700 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Building 3, Suite 555, Beaverton OR, 97005
letting go

Portland | Letting go of Unhelpful Tendencies

Letting Go of Unhelpful Tendencies Do you find yourself thinking, saying or doing things you wish you didn’t? Do your bad habits make you unhappy, unhealthy, destroy your sense of self-worth or your relationships? You’re not alone. Most of us have some habits we’d like to break, but sometimes we just don’t know how or where to start. Although bad habits may have created well-worn […]
Wed May 21
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Portland | Mahasiddha Kadampa Buddhist Center
9498 SW Barbur Blvd #101, Portland, OR 97219

Portland | Foundation Program (Thursdays)

Thursday Foundation Program with Susan de la Vergne Book: Meaningful to Behold Thursdays | 9:30am-11:30am If you are interested in this class, please email [email protected] to learn how to become a Foundation Program member. Meaningful to Behold by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Many people have the compassionate wish to benefit others, but few understand how to […]
Thu May 22
9:30 am - 11:30 am
Portland | Mahasiddha Kadampa Buddhist Center
9498 SW Barbur Blvd #101, Portland, OR 97219
Spring Festival 2025

International Spring Festival 2025

Solving our Daily Problems with Loving Kindness Buddha Maitreya is the manifestation of all the Buddhas’ realisation of loving kindness. This festival is a unique opportunity to concentrate on understanding and practising the precious instructions given by Venerable Geshe-la on how to develop the three types of love. We will also learn how we ourselves […]
Fri May 23
All Day
England | Manjushri
Ulverston, England
letting go

Salem | Letting Go of the Inner Critic

Letting Go of the Inner Critic: How to Cultivate Positive Narratives We all have an inner critic that undermines ourself and others. However, this critic has no power once it’s been correctly identified and re-focused using simple, yet effective meditation techniques. During this series we will explore recognizing our inner critic without identifying as the […]
Fri May 23
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Woodland Chapel
582 High Street SE, Salem OR 97301
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SE Portland Branch

@ Yoga Refuge

June 2025
July 2025
No event found!
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June 2025
July 2025
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Beaverton Branch

@ Sage Center for Wholeness and Health
Room 555

May 2025
like a diamond

Beaverton | Like a DiamondAll Levels

Like a Diamond If you cut a diamond into small pieces, each piece is valuable. Buddha’s teachings are like that. Practicing all of them together, the whole diamond, is great but can seem like a lot. Practicing just some of the teachings, smaller pieces of the gem, is also very worthwhile! In this course, we’ll […]
Tue May 20
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Park Plaza West - Building 3
10700 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Building 3, Suite 555, Beaverton OR, 97005
like a diamond

Beaverton | Like a DiamondAll Levels

Like a Diamond If you cut a diamond into small pieces, each piece is valuable. Buddha’s teachings are like that. Practicing all of them together, the whole diamond, is great but can seem like a lot. Practicing just some of the teachings, smaller pieces of the gem, is also very worthwhile! In this course, we’ll […]
Tue May 27
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Park Plaza West - Building 3
10700 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Building 3, Suite 555, Beaverton OR, 97005
No event found!
May 2025
No event found!
Inclement Weather

OUR PUBLIC TALK IS RESCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY JAN 21ST @ 10:30AM​

Due to the snow storm, all of our classes & events will be cancelled.

Please email [email protected] with any questions.