Journey to Himalayas

Jack Connelly

Many years ago, Jack travelled to India as a young man with the purpose of exploring this wide world. One day, while sitting on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi a Buddhist monk came by and
from his robe pulled out an orange which he offered to Jack. Over the next few days they met for tea and discussions and a new world of possibilities opened up for him. He spent the next five
years in Asia traveling, studying and practicing meditation with different teachers in retreat centres and monasteries in India, Burma, Sri Lanka and Thailand. There he was fortunate in
meeting many of the great Theravada Masters of the day, including Ajahn Tate, Ajahn Chah, Ajahn Buddhadasa and Mahasi Sayadaw, as well as Advaita Vedanta Masters Sri Nisargadata Maharaj and H.W.L. Poonjaji.

Since that time his study and exploration of Buddha-Dharma and meditation continued both in Canada and back in Asia. His principal teacher became the Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche. He was also fortunate in receiving empowerments and teachings from H.H. the 17th Karmapa and H.H. Dilgo Khyentse, as well as direct one on one teachings from Urgyen Tulku Rinpoche.

Join Jack on this Pilgrimage as we follow in the footsteps of the Buddha to these ancient sacred places and discover the vibrancy and presence that are embedded in these sacred lands.

Brian McLeod

Brian McLeod was accepted as a student of the Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche in 1978. From 1984 to 1989 he lived at the Dharma Centre, participating in the first three-year Academy program for training Dharma teachers, followed by a two-year stint as Property Manager. He has been leading retreats in Canada and Germany since 1999, and has been the lead teacher of the River and Bridge Dharma Group in Winnipeg since 2007.

Brian’s teaching is simple and clear, informed by his life experience with work and family. Following his time at the Dharma Centre he lived in the eastern Arctic for seventeen years, working in business and as a senior manager for Inuit political and business organizations. He now lives in Winnipeg, working in mediation (one ‘t’) and organizational development, in partnership with his wife Lorraine Thomas. They have two sons, both now in university. Brian has a degree in Forestry from UBC (forest soils and ecology) and a Master’s degree in dispute resolution from Osgoode Hall Law School.

Janie Pelletier (Yoga Teacher & Holistic Nutritionist)

BONNI ROSS

Conscious development of spiritual community has been a lively part of the engagement she, with her partner Matthew Eades, has with students in Canada and New Zealand. Bonni and Matthew have extensive experience working in the world and this, plus idiosyncratic senses of humour, informs a practical, integrated approach to committed practice. “The world is my cloister” is the motto of Sunshine Coast Retreat House.

Bonni began exploring the teachings of liberation in the early sixties. In the mid 70’s she met her principal teacher, Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche, whose direct, eclectic teaching and example are central to her life. The encouragement of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, teachings from many great Buddhist masters, and innovative westerners like Fritz Perls and Buckminster Fuller have had direct influence, as well as artists, composers, scientists, poets, dancers, philosophers and mystery writers too numerous to mention. Her inspiration comes from “ordinary” people who demonstrate exceptional courage and compassion in the midst of great suffering.

Andy Evans

Andy was born on the upper Sunshine Coast in the outdoor capital of Canada, Powell River BC. His love of nature and vast knowledge of outdoor ventures make him a great pick for assisting in a hiking tour through the Himalayas. Andy’s training and experience includes wilderness first aid; swift water; navigation and orientation; and avalanche certification. On top of that, Andy has volunteered with Sunshine Coast and Powell River search and rescue for 10 years.

Some of Andy’s favourite activities are back country skiing; snowshoeing; hiking; mountain and road cycling; and kayaking. His approach to life is work hard, play harder supported by his keen sense of fun. Andy is a practical and observant guy easily depended on to make sensible choices in challenging situations.

LAWRENCE CHAMBERS

Photographic Moments… a gift of surprise, wonder and contemplation
In 2013 after years of interest in photography, I decided to take a week long course in Dubois, Wyoming with National Geographic photographer Jay Dickman. This inspired me to elevate my photography.

My photographic experience usually begins by being drawn to a particular place, thing or object and engaging in the art of photography. When a photograph is actually taken, I may have a sense of what has occurred in that moment. However, as I view these photographic moments, I often find myself surprised and filled with wonder. In my experience, the end result of my photography is an incredible gift of “moments” that can be shared with others and enjoyed over and over again.

I sincerely hope you enjoy these photographic moments.

CAT KABIRA (Certified Yoga Instructor)

Originally from the USA, Cat Kabira has been practicing yoga for 20 years and teaching since 2003. What got Cat on the mat in the first place was her search for healing for her eating disorder, drug and alcohol addictions, depression and sexual, emotional and physical abuse.

Cat has studied with several teachers and traditions around the globe, styles mostly derived from Krishnamacharya (Ashtanga, Iyengar, Hatha, Forrest, Vinyasa as well as some Kundalini teachings and Tantric lineages. She trained with teachers: Ana Forrest of Forrest Yoga, Baron Baptiste of Power Yoga, Todd Norian, Bihar School of Yoga and 7 Centers Yoga Arts, Annie Carpenter, Barbara Benaugh, Shiva Rea, Jasmine Lieb (yoga therapeutics). She is not married to one particular lineage and her practice and teaching is being present with what is needed in the moment as well as using her skills at seeing, feeling, and reading body patterns and energy to find the most empowering and transformational practices for her students for that day.

Along with yoga and meditation, Cat has trained with shamans and healers in several modalities and is a certified Level 6 Craniosacral Therapist. She trains in pilates, the Gyrotonic Expansion System, Feldenkreis and the circus arts (especially the trapeze).

Cat loves to dance and has been composing on the piano since she was young. Her base had been Bali, Indonesia for the past 11 years and at the moment she has homes in several places on the planet as she runs yoga teacher trainings, retreats, workshops all over the globe.