Longchen Teachers College
The people Rigdzin Shikpo authorised as teachers work together as the Longchen Teachers College, supported by the Mandala Mother. The aim is to collectively ensure that the teachings and inspiration of the Longchen Foundation lineage continue as a living tradition into the future. The College activities include teaching the Longchen Programmes, working on teaching materials, supporting existing teachers and training the teachers of the future.
Sally Sheldrake, the Mandala Mother
Sally, a student of Buddhism since the mid-70s, met Rigdzin Shikpo in 1981 at a Buddhist Society summer school retreat. At the end of this retreat Rigdzin Shikpo invited her to join a school of Buddhist studies that he would launch in 1982, founded under the auspices of the Longchen Foundation. Sally has practised with Rigdzin Shikpo from that time, doing long retreats under his guidance. Also receiving teachings from Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche and others of the Nyingma lineages.
As a mature science student going on to train as a teacher at Cambridge University, she lived in Nepal teaching English, Geography and Maths doing retreat whenever possible. On her return to Oxford in 1989, she began working more closely with Rigdzin Shikpo as his personal assistant. She took vows with Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, committing her life to working with the lineage of teachings expounded by Rigdzin Shikpo and the Longchen Dharma. As Rigdzin Shikpo’s private secretary she currently works with him developing the Longchen Mandala.
Authorised as a teacher and meditation instructor within the Longchen mandala, Sally previously taught at the local Longchen Oxford Group and on the Path of Freedom and The Lion’s Roar programmes.
Francesca Fremantle
Francesca received a BA in Sanskrit and a PhD for a study of the Guhyasamaja Tantra from SOAS. She also trained in the classical dance form of Bharatanatyam, and took part in performances in the UK.
In 1969 she met Chogyam Trungpa, who had recently founded the first Tibetan Dharma centre in Britain at Samye Ling in Scotland, and became his student. The following year he moved to the USA, and subsequently she spent several years there studying with him in Boulder, Colorado. They collaborated on a new translation of The Tibetan Book of the Dead, which was published in 1975. After Trungpa Rinpoche passed away she became a student of Rigdzin Shikpo, whom she regards as being inseparably united in mind with him.
Her latest book is Luminous Emptiness, published by Shambhala Publications. She contributed a chapter to Recalling Chogyam Trungpa, by Fabrice Midal, and a foreword to Rigdzin Shikpo’s latest book, Never Turn Away. She translates Sanskrit and Tibetan texts and writes on Buddhism. Her articles and reviews have been published in Buddhism Now, The Middle Way, Tricycle, Buddhadharma and Shambhala Sun.
Authorised as a teacher and meditation instructor within the Longchen mandala, Francesca has taught the Path of Freedom curriculum, The Lion’s Roar, The Longchen Heart Essence and also teaches Heart of the Buddha public talks.
Moira Brown
Moira Brown first came to Longchen in 1991 while Rigdzin Shikpo was on his 3 year retreat. Feeling a very strong connection to him even before meeting him, She has been his student ever since.
Moira has a a Bachelor of Science degree in health sciences and has been a homeopath for 23 years and a Craniosacral therapist for 10 years.
Moira is authorised as a meditation instructor and teacher in the Longchen Mandala.
Moira taught The Path of Freedom programme in a local group for many years. She is currently a teacher of The Longchen open programme and the Lions Roar Programme.
Caroline Culme-Seymour
Caroline met Rigdzin Shikpo in 1993 and became his student; studying and practising under his guidance since then.
Caroline is a photographer whose work has been published and exhibited. She has an enduring interest in art and literature, in particular how the best of it expresses the profound insights of the dharma.
Authorised as a teacher and meditation instructor within the Longchen mandala she teaches on the Path of Freedom, Endless Compassionate Vision and The Lion’s Roar programmes.
Caroline Cupitt
Caroline came to Longchen in 1991 whilst Rigdzin Shikpo was in three year retreat. Having met Rigdzin Shikpo in London in 1993 after his retreat, she became his student and has been so ever since.
Authorised as a teacher and meditation guide within the Longchen mandala, she teaches on the Path of Freedom, Endless Compassionate Vision and The Lion’s Roar programmes, as well as at the Longchen South London group. Since 2024 Caroline has been Chair of the Longchen Teachers College.
Ly Frances
Ly met Rigdzin Shikpo in 2003, and has been a student of his since that time. She is authorised as a teacher and meditation instructor within the Longchen mandala, and has taught in the Bristol local group on the Path of Freedom programme.
Ly has a degree in Biology and Ecology, and a Masters in Holistic science from Schumacher College. Her career path has been varied; she worked as an environmental consultant before retraining as a childbirth educator and doula after the birth of her two sons. Currently she works as a Knowledge Exchange practitioner at the University of Bristol, supporting academics to translate their research into real-world applications. She lives in Bristol with her partner and two sons. She is particularly interested in working with the Longchen view whilst grappling with the challenges of work and family.
David Hutchens
David first met Rigdzin Shikpo in 1978, not long after the Longchen Foundation was first established. He has since spent over forty five years studying and practicing the Mahayana Maha Ati path under his guidance. He is the editor of Never Turn Away: the Buddhist Path Beyond Hope and Fear, by Rigdzin Shikpo, published by Wisdom Publications.
David regularly gives talks from the Path of Freedom course in the Longchen Lewisham local group and teaches courses and retreats on The Lion’s Roar, Endless Compassionate Vision, Longchen Heart Essence, and Vajra Other World programmes.
Stephen Hinde
Stephen has been a student of Rigdzin Shikpo since 1994. Prior to this he received instruction from Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso.
Stephen studied Physics at the University of Sheffield. He is now completing a Master’s degree in Buddhist Studies at the University of Bristol. His dissertation looks into the death stories of great Tibetan yogins. He divides his time between his studies, teaching Buddhism, and consultancy facilitating discussions between people involved with Technology, Media and the Arts.
Authorised as a teacher and meditation instructor within the Longchen mandala. He teaches in the Longchen Bristol group on the Path of Freedom programme as well as The Lion’s Roar. He has also run courses and led retreats within Longchen on the Avatamsaka Sutra.
Mary Mackay-James
Mary first received meditation instruction from Rigdzin Shikpo in 1987. She became a regular student of his in 1993, shortly after moving to the UK from South Africa.
Mary is a Mathematics graduate and a Chemistry post-graduate. She’s worked in a research environment and taught Maths up to Sixth Form for several years. She has 3 children and is interested in the challenges and benefits of practice within a family environment.
Authorised as a teacher and meditation instructor within the Longchen mandala, Mary teaches the Path of Freedom, The Lion’s Roar, Endless Compassionate Vision, and The Longchen Heart Essence programmes.
Tim Malnick
Tim has been a student of Rigdzin Shikpo since 1996.
With a young family Tim is very interested in exploring practice amidst the chaos and energy of family life. He finds the directness and immediacy of the Longchen approach tremendously helpful in this sense. Tim has had a longstanding interest in the ideal of enlightened society, a phrase used often by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche to describe a society centred not on confusion, profit or material development but on basic goodness and a search for and path toward awakening.
Tim works with businesses and organisations as an educator and facilitator helping them develop more sustainable and socially just approaches. Through his work he runs occasional workshops linking the subtle and profound views of Rigdzin Shikpo’s teachings with contemporary social, political and economic questions of the 21st century.
Authorised as a teacher and meditation instructor within the Longchen mandala. He previously taught in the Longchen Bristol group, teaching the Path of Freedom and The Lion’s Roar programmes.
Kathy Nairne
Kathy Nairne first met Rigdzin Shikpo in 1984, and has been practising meditation as his student since then. She studied philosophy and psychology and trained as a clinical psychologist. She worked in the NHS for many years.
Kathy is authorised as a meditation instructor and teacher within the Longchen mandala and contributes to the teaching in the Longchen South London group on the Path of Freedom programme and on The Lion’s Roar programme.
Vincent Power
Vincent was first introduced to Buddhism in 1989 through an introductory meditation weekend taught by Rigdzin Shikpo in Oxford. That weekend formed the basis for the book Openness, Clarity and Sensitivity. Vincent became a student of Rigdzin Shikpo in 1993.
Vincent is authorised as a meditation instructor and teacher in the Longchen mandala and has taught on The Lion’s Roar programme as well as at the Oxford local group.
Originally from Ireland, where he studied engineering at University College Dublin, Vincent spent most of his working life in the UK. He now lives in Germany.
Silvia Stadelmann
In memoriam of Silvia Stadelmann Dec 23, 1956 – Aug 31, 2018.
Silvia met Rigdzin Shikpo in 1997 and was his student ever since.
Silvia worked in a day clinic teaching relaxation and mindfulness based relapse prevention, stress reduction and cognitive therapy.
Silvia was authorised as a teacher and meditation instructor within the Longchen mandala. She ran a local Longchen group in south-west Germany teaching topics in The Path of Freedom and taught on The Lion’s Roar programme in both Britain and in Germany.