Drupon Lama Dorje was born in Limi in the Himalayas and became a Buddhist monk at the age of 5 under the Drikung Kagyu lineage. Since 2009, he has been living in Chile, expanding the Philosophy of Life across Central and South America.Lama Dorje serves as the primary spiritual guardian for Dewachen to ensure Dharma principles of well-being guide our lives and choices on all levels: from personal, to project, to organization, to the global level. His root teachers are H.E Garchen Rinpoche, H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang, and retreat master was Drupon Jampa Rigzin Rinpoche.
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Carolina was born and raised in Louisiana. She has a degree in Cultural Anthropology and went on to found Reviveolution Non-Profit and Hampi Mama Medicine Sanctuary in Peru. For 12 years she has worked with indigenous cultures around the globe to expand ancestral knowledge, establish land-based sanctuaries, and promote cultural and ecological regeneration. After meeting him at an intercultural gathering in Peru in 2018, Drupon Lama Dorje deeply impacted Carolina’s life trajectory, showing her that human consciousness is the key to intercultural unity and ecological regeneration. With full conviction in this truth, she now devotes her passion and skills full-time to practicing and expanding the precious Dharma. She travels the world with Lama as his translator and assistant, serves as the director of Lama Dorje Foundation and Dewachen Sanctuary in Costa Rica, and is honored to be in service to bring all of Lama’s aspirations into fruition.
Jack came to know about LDF through Lama Dorje's music and the followers who have turned into active supporters and Sangha members. He is a retired international business executive who has also been very active on non-profit boards especially in the area of strategic growth initiatives and fundraising. His key focus will be to expand the donor base especially of those supporters who can provide large donations ($1000+) to fund the building of Dewachen's infrastructure to promote healing through dedicated noble silence practice. He is a father of four (2 of whom are adopted from India and China). He has BA in international relations/economics from The American University (Washington, DC) and an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
"One of the most important things we need to do in this life is stop, rest & heal so that we can go out into the world with a renewed wellspring of compassion and equanimity. DWC can offer this oasis of healing based on the dharma and infused with the loving energy of Lama Dorje. Please join us in building this refuge."
Sara is a versatile professional, blending her expertise as an anthropologist and civil engineer across five continents. Her diverse experience spans politics, project management, consulting, and innovation, giving her a profound understanding of how societies and technology intersect in various cultures. When Sara discovered the transformative power of meditation and Dharma, it reshaped her perspective on life. Now, inspired by this realization and firmly convinced that any form of transformation, whether in the digital, corporate, or societal realm, must start at the individual level, she is eager to channel her enthusiasm and her skills in organizing events that promote the Dharma, with the ultimate goal of fostering positive change for the benefit of all beings.
The dharma first touched my life when I read The Four Noble Truths in Thailand. Consciously and subconsciously this knowledge has influenced me to live in alignment with the Dharmic path. In my career as Physician Assistant in neurosciences and psychiatry, I recognized the need for greater humanity in Western medicine and introduced the philosophical tenants of Buddhism, the self-care of Ayurveda, and the breath-work of yoga, ultimately benefitting those I cared for and myself. I now try to live this way in all areas of my life. I have realized through compassion I am able to honor the vulnerability of others to build strong relationships. It is a gift to be in service to Lama Dorje and the Dharma, and I love growing our Sangha.
Pili Castro is an Artist and Waldorf Teacher. She was borned and raised in Costa Rica, always attracted to nature and seeking for time alone in contemplation. She was deeply touched by Tibetan culture after participating in the second Sacred Journey to India with Lama Dorje in November 2023. She currently lives in Monteverde, Costa Rica and wants to deepen her practices on Buddhism trough Lama Dorje Foundation.
Talitha is Brazilian, mother of two, artist, communicator, biologist, environmentalist and nature lover. Her mission in life is to work for the benefit of all beings and she considers it an honor and a great pleasure to be part of the LDF team. Meeting Drupon Lama Dorje was like turning the rudder of her life in the right direction and the study and practice of the Dharma made profound changes in her life. With the aspiration of helping to expand the Dharma in Latin America, she is involved with the Sanghas of Brazil, Chile and Colombia to make the Dharma more available to the Spanish and Portuguese communities. She is also leading the project to support the education of the Drikung Kagyu nuns who live in Dehradun, India.
Currently residing between Mexcio and California, Sarah is proud to join the Lama Dorje Foundation as Operations Manager, and to be in service of spreading the Dharma.
Sarah brings a unique background in the environmental sciences and agriculture. Serving as project manager, program developer, and partnership coordinator for many on-the-ground land stewardship projects, and for an international agricultural exchange program called MESA, Sarah has refined skills in helping to bring projects to their highest states of efficiency and sustainability.
Sarah has practiced yoga and meditation since she was in high school in Colorado, and met Lama Dorje and Carolina in 2020 at a Tea Talk in the Western Slope. Moved by their cross-cultural commitment to establishing inner and outer peace, Sarah has been following the teachings and development of the Foundation ever since. In her free time Sarah can be found searching the Mexican streets for the best tamale, training for marathons, writing, and cooking with produce from her garden.
Introduced to the transformative power of the Dharma by Drupon Lama Dorje, Jeff discovered a path that resonated deeply with his desire to serve others. Embracing Lama Dorje's vision, Jeff dedicates his efforts to curating and nurturing the Dewachen property, where he plays a pivotal role in land management and site development.
In his role, Jeff not only oversees retreat development but also manages the day-to-day operations of the facility with unwavering dedication. Through his commitment to stewardship, Jeff ensures that Dewachen remains a sanctuary where individuals can embark on their spiritual journeys and find solace amidst the serene surroundings.
Jeff's passion for fostering personal growth and facilitating transformative experiences is evident in every aspect of his work. His blend of practical expertise and spiritual insight creates a harmonious environment that nurtures both the land and the hearts of those who visit Dewachen.
With a devotion to service and a vision inspired by the teachings of Lama Dorje, Jeff continues to leave a profound mark on the world, embodying the principles of compassion, stewardship, and spiritual fulfillment.
Joseph is a Costa Rican native and our primary community liaison. His joyful open heart, positive attitude, and local insight are Incredible attributes to the team. He has a gift of vision and skillful means to connect deeply with local community and involve everyone in the process. He had the foresight Dewachen was coming 2 years before we were introduced to the land!
Leti and Chi are space holders, retreat organizers, and community builders working primarily with natural methods of healing. With extensive dedication to serving others through natural medicine and inner healing, they are honored to have the privilege to serve the Dharma and to share peace, love, and joy with all beings.
Mikiah is founder and steward of Dancing Tree Sanctuary, a center and community land project in the Pacific Northwest. He employs his skills as a natural builder to create sacred spaces for collective healing and awakening. A devoted student of life and nature, Mikiah has been a world traveler from a young age. He values experiences that bring him in touch with our shared humanity. Mikiah has been moved by the many faces of suffering, which have opened his heart and catalyzed his path as an aspiring dharma practitioner. Mikiah is honored to contribute his skills in land stewardship and community/project development as a member of the Lama Dorje Foundation vision council.
Richard has forty years of career experience predominantly building international businesses in the software and dotcom industries where highlights include being responsible for the strategy and execution for Europe's first dotcom to IPO on NASDAQ and leading the world's first omnichannel campaign featuring Web. He has also been CEO of a public cloud company and spent 10 years with SAP. He is currently responsible for the Middle East and Africa region of a Silicon Valley based company. A former Cold War aviator with the Royal Air Force, Richard has a business degree from Liverpool and an MBA from Bradford.After many years of fascination with Buddhist philosophy and investment in ecological concerns serendipity led him to meet Lama Dorje in 2021 and take his Buddhist vows. He lives near Manchester in the UK with a grown up family. He is a current member of The Woodland Trust and an early member of the Free Tibet human rights group.
Luis Quispe is a respected Pampamesayoq wisdom-keeper of the Q’ero Nation of Peru. He served on the Q’ero Nation council for 2019, and is a phenomenal reader of coca leaves.
Luis dedicates his life to sharing ancestral wisdom and traditional ceremony with humility and cultural integrity to ensure the wisdom of his lineage continues to feed the spirit of the Earth and benefits all people far into future generations.
Leticia grew up traversing the Andes mountains and learning about Inkan plants from the matriarchs of her family, her mom and abuela. She was the only child in her lineage who had a natural gift with plants and decided to dedicate herself to the medicine path.
She pursued higher education in nursing and became a certified nurse in her 20’s so she could have an understanding of occidental medicine. She determined that occidental medicine is very beneficial in many ways yet, in her opinion, also has its downfall in causing many unwanted side effects.
Leticia now bridges the best of both worlds dedicating herself to providing health care for her community through traditional Quechua medicines, plant walks, herbal therapies, and medicine making.
She is the Co-Founder and lead herbalist in Hampi Mama Botanical Sanctuary. Hampi Mama means “Medicine Mother” in Quechua. Her dream is to establish additional medicinal sanctuaries in both highland communities and the cloud forest to preserve the full breadth of Andean plant knowledge and habitats.
