Lama Tsultrim Allione is an American author and teacher who has studied in Tibetan Buddhism's Karma Kagyu lineage.
Biography
Early life and education
She was born in 1947 in Maine under the name Joan Rousmanière Ewing.
Travels to India and Nepal
She first travelled to India and Nepal in 1967, returned in 1969 and January 1970 she became one of the first American women to be ordained as a Tibetan nun. She was given her vows by the Karmapa, from the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, who gave her the name Karma Tsultrim Chodron. Allione gave back her monastic vows four years later and married.
''Women of Wisdom'' (1984)
Tsultrim Allione continued her studies and Buddhist practice, which led to the 1984 publication of her book Women of Wisdom, a collection of the namtar of six Tibetan Buddhistyogini such as Machig Labdrön, Ayu Khandro Dorje Paldron, Nangsa Obum, Jomo Menmo, Machig Ongjo and Drenchen Rema. This is the work she's most well known for and it has since been translated from English into several foreign languages and expanded in a revised 2nd edition. In 1993, with her husband, David Petit, Tsultrim Allione founded Tara Mandala, a retreat center in southern Colorado, in the United States. As well as offering retreats at Tara Mandala, Allione regularly teaches in the United States and in Europe.
Recognition
In Tibetan Buddhism it is believed that once beings such as Machig Labdrön attain enlightenment, they are no longer subject to the limitation of one body and may emanate into many different dimensions and forms. An emanation continues the work of the original incarnation. In May and June of 2007 Allione led a pilgrimage to Nepal and Tibet which included a visit to Sangri Khangmar where Machig Labdrön lived from the age of 37 to 99. At the site, Allione was recognized as an emanation of Machig Labdrön by the resident Lama, Karma Dorje Rinpoche, the 7th incarnation of the brother of Mikyö Dorje, the 8th Karmapa. Lama Karma Nyitön Kunkhyab Chökyi Dorje offered Allione a self-arisen golden crystal phurba, the only remaining tsa tsa made from the ashes of Machig's body, texts of Machig's teachings, a hat with symbolic meaning designed by Machig, and various other treasures. Allione was also independently recognised as Machig's emanation in Nepal by Lama Tsering Wangdu Rinpoche, holder of the lineage of Dampa Sangye. Commenting on the recognition as Machig Labdrön, Lama Tsultrim said she thought the purpose was
to make this new phase of collecting Machig's lineage more empowered. Recognition allows more energy to flow, and Machig's blessings can manifest more fully. It's a kind of mirroring from the outside validating our heartfelt intention to reinvigorate and spread Machig's lineage in the West. It also felt very natural. We will keep doing what we have been doing already, but the recognition creates an auspicious interdependence for the teachings.
Activities
In 2008 Lama Tsultrim Allione's book Feeding Your Demons was published, an approach based on the Chöd lineage of Machig Labdrön that Allione has practiced since 1973. Allione opens chapter five of the book by quoting Carl Jung as saying "One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light but by making the darkness conscious." Mark Epstein has described her work as "a book that Carl Jung could only have dreamed of writing." Allione claims that the "process of feeding our demons is a method for bringing our shadow into consciousness and accessing the treasures it holds rather than repressing it." In 2009, Lama Tsultrim Allione was selected by an esteemed committee of scholars and practitioners to receive the international “Outstanding Woman in Buddhism” Award given in Bangkok, Thailand. Lama Tsultrim completed her book, Wisdom Rising: Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine, published by Simon and Schuster in May 2018. At the same time, Lama Tsultrim continues to guide Tara Mandala and thousands of students around the world. Her writings and teachings come from her sublime Tibetan lamas as well as her experience as a Western woman and mother. She is known for her ability to translate the wisdom of the ancient Tibetan Buddhist tradition into clear teachings that are relatable and relevant to Western audiences.
Personal life
Allione married and has given birth to four children, one of whom died from sudden infant death syndrome. She has six grandchildren.
