Luncheon & Guest Speaker: Venerable Lobsang Damchoe

Venerable Lobsang Damchoe is a respected Tibetan Buddhist teacher, chaplain, and former physician known for her deep knowledge, service at centers like the Guhyasamaja Buddhist Center in Fairfax, and significant contributions to teaching and translating Buddhist texts. She is often described as having a resonant voice for chants and rituals, and a background in dance therapy and medicine. She's recognized for leading retreats, teaching modules like Discovering Buddhism, and her connection to the FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition).  

She first took Refuge Vows in 1997 and has been studying and teaching Dharma since then. She received Rabjung ordination in 2004 and Getsul Ordination in 2022 with Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche. Venerable has been studying and teaching at Guhyasamaja Center since 2019. She has also been studying under Geshe Gelek, a Resident Teacher at Kadampa Center, and Geshe Dhargey, a Resident Teacher at Do Ngak Kunphen Ling. Venerable Damchoe is currently enrolled in the Masters Program at the Institute Lama Tsongkhapa. 

Venerable Lobsang Damchoe received her MA from NYU in Dance Therapy in 1980 and developed the first Dance Therapy Program at Connecticut Valley State Psychiatric Hospital. Ven. Damchoe received her MS in 1984 and her MD in 1988 from Georgetown University. After this, she completed her residency in OB/GYN at Washington Hospital Center and went into private practice for 18 years. She also served at local clinics. Later she provided medical care to the elderly and chronically ill in their homes through Hospice Care. Currently, she serves the elderly at Sibley Hospital leading groups and workshops. 

We plan to serve a boxed lunch from Subway (choice of Turkey, Ham, Cold Cut Combo, or Veggie Delight) and a time of fellowship until our guest speaker can arrive. Cost $10 per person. Please RSVP by emailing the office or signing up on Sunday. We hope you can join us on January 18 for lunch, and then deeper conversation with Ven. Damchoe beginning between 12:15 - 12:30 PM.