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 in Modern Buddhism classes, a special presentation of Buddha’s teachings suited to modern day. You don’t need to be a Buddhist to attend classes; everyone is welcome! In addition to our General Program classes (Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays), 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

Kelsang
Milob

Kelsang Milob has been practicing Kadampa Buddhism since 2002 and was ordained in 2014.  Her heartfelt teachings reflect her sincere faith in Buddha’s teachings on compassion and wisdom. Milob is on the Special Teacher Training Program with Manjushri Center.

Milob Teaches in Eugene on Tuesday at 6:15pm.

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.

James teaches in Portland on Mondays at 10:30am and as a substitute teacher.

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.

Susan teaches in Portland for our Foundation Program on Thursdays at 9:30am and as a substitute teacher.

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.

Checkout what's Coming Up

March 2024

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 Mar 28
9:30 am - 11:30 am
Portland | Mahasiddha Kadampa Buddhist Center
9498 SW Barbur Blvd #101, Portland, OR 97219
Universal Compassion

Portland | Foundation Program (Saturdays)

Saturday Foundation Program With Kadam Heather Book: Universal Compassion Saturdays | 9:00am—11:00am If you are interested in this class, please email [email protected] to learn how to become a Foundation Program member. Universal Compassion is a commentary to a twelfth-century text on training the mind, entitled Training the Mind in Seven Points, which was composed by […]
Sat Mar 30
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Portland | Mahasiddha Kadampa Buddhist Center
9498 SW Barbur Blvd #101, Portland, OR 97219
Letting go of bad habits

Portland | Letting Go of Bad Habits

Letting Go of Bad Habits Our unpeaceful states of mind that cause us to suffer and perform harmful actions are just bad mental habits, and like all habits they can be broken. Just as it is possible to separate mud from water, so it is possible to eliminate all of our bad habits from our […]
Sun Mar 31
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Portland | Mahasiddha Kadampa Buddhist Center
9498 SW Barbur Blvd #101, Portland, OR 97219

Portland | Teacher Training Program

About the Teacher Training Program The Teacher Training Program (TTP) is designed for people who wish to train as authentic Dharma Teachers or simply engage with Buddha’s teachings in the deepest possible manner. In addition to completing the study of fourteen texts of Sutra and Tantra, the student is required to observe certain commitments with […]
Sun Mar 31
4:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Portland | Mahasiddha Kadampa Buddhist Center
9498 SW Barbur Blvd #101, Portland, OR 97219
April 2024

Portland | Prayers for World Peace

PRAYERS FOR WORLD PEACE By learning to cherish others we can experience greater peace of mind and help to establish world peace. Through contemplating these prayers compiled by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche from traditional sources, we learn to cherish others. If everyone sincerely prays to be able to cherish others then gradually, through the […]
Mon Apr 01
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Portland | Mahasiddha Kadampa Buddhist Center
9498 SW Barbur Blvd #101, Portland, OR 97219
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 Apr 02
5:00 pm - 6:15 pm
Portland | Mahasiddha Kadampa Buddhist Center
9498 SW Barbur Blvd #101, Portland, OR 97219
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Beaverton Branch

@ Sage Center for Wholeness and Health
Room 555

April 2024
Beaverton_Talk-20240302

Beaverton | Change Your Mind, Change Your WorldRepeating EventBeginner

There’s so much “out there” to worry about all the time. Relationships. Career. Misfortune. Current events. No matter how cleverly or cautiously we try to avoid problems, we still encounter them. We may think There’s nothing I can do. We feel uncertain, overwhelmed, distraught, anxious. Buddha teaches that it’s our customary ways of thinking that […]
Tue Apr 02
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Sage Center - Beaverton
10700 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Building 3, Suite 555, Beaverton OR, 97005
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April 2024
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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.