Damchoe trained at Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal, the heart center of the FPMT and was a monk for more than 20 years. He came to Kurukulla Center as Geshe Tsulga's interpreter in 1999. In addition to his duties as translator, he is also working towards a Bachelor of Arts degree. We are very fortunate to have Damchoe as Kurukulla's translator, giving us access to Geshe Tsulga's teachings with precision, dedication and humor. As well, the center benefits from Damchoe's many other skills including ritual arts and as chant leader at pujas leading with his deep, resonate voice. His email is damchoe@kurukulla.org.

Wendy has been practicing Buddhism since 1987 and has worked for the FPMT since 1989, first as office manager at Tara Institute, Melbourne; then as director of marketing and publicity at Wisdom Publications, Boston; and currently as archivist for the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. She has been director of Kurukulla Center since September 2002 and in addition to her administration responsibilities often leads pujas and other practices at the center. Wendy teaches yoga out of her home in Weston and in studios in the western suburbs. She lives with her husband Nick. Wendy's email is director@kurukulla.org.

Sean joined Kurukulla in 2004 and quickly became an integral part of our community. His interest in developing community-driven initiatives motivated him to coordinate the center’s Elderhostel "Day of Discovery" programs. These events have been highly successful in expanding Kurukulla’s services to a broader audience. As Assistant Director Sean is involved in all aspects of the center and assists Wendy to execute the center’s myriad tasks and activities. If you are interested in volunteering in the many projects at Kurukulla, please contact Sean directly at sean@kurukulla.org. Sean lives in Reading with his partner Jeff, their Great Dane Kosh, Siberian Husky Lady, and their cat Isaac.

Debra has been practicing Buddhism since 1979. For many years she was involved at Insight Meditation Center in Barre, Massachusetts and with dharma groups in Colorado. She has been actively involved with Kurukulla Center since 1997 and has been Kurukulla's Spiritual Program Co-coordinator (SPC) since 2001. She lives with her husband, Bill, and daughter, Kate. She can be contacted at program@kurukulla.org.

Jennifer is a graduate of the Harvard Divinity School and has been a practicing Buddhist since 1996. She served as director of Kurukulla Center from 1997 to 1999 and has been treasurer for the past several years. She also works part-time for the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive and lives with her husband, Buck, and children, Max and John Ryan. She can be reached at jen@LamaYeshe.com.

Ngawang, who came to Kurukulla from Sera Je monastery in the spring of 2004, has been a monk for over fifteen years. He is Geshe Tsulga's nephew and serves as his attendant while continuing to study for his geshe degree. He has recently begun to teach Dharma classes, too. His cheerfulness and humility endear him to everyone he meets.

Priscilla was interested in Buddhism since her college days and became an active member of Kurukulla Center in 1996. She was closely involved with the purchase and renovations of the center. In 2002 she joined Kurukulla's board of directors. She works as a writer of computer software manuals with her husband, Joji, and son, Benjamin. Priscilla can be contacted at building@kurukulla.org.

Ordained in 2002, Venerable Tsunma-la resides at Kurukulla Center and assists Geshe Tsulga with monk sponsorship for his many Tibetan student monks at Sera-je Monastery in south India. She can be contacted at tsunmala@kurukulla.org.

David studied Religion at Carleton College 1986-1990 and met the Dharma while on an off-campus semester in Nepal in 1988. He spent a year in India and Nepal in 1993, during which time he took refuge at Kopan Monastery and completed the three-month Vajrasattva retreat in Dharamsala, India. Upon his return, he began working at Wisdom Publications, where he is now senior editor. At that time he also began attending Kurukulla Center. He served as center director from 1999 to 2002 and now helps in the design and production of Kurukulla newsletters and other publicity materials and teaches introductory classes. He lives with his wife, Amy, and their son, Traeger.

Haim has been attending Geshela's teachings since 1997. At present he coordinates the set-up of the several pujas we do at the Center each month. If you would like to be more involved with pujas and learn how to set-up the altar, please email Haim at pujasetup@kurukulla.org. Haim lives with his wife, Tamar, and their daughters Danielle and Halle Tara.

Dr. Nicholas Ribush received his medical degree from Melbourne University, Australia, in 1964. He first encountered Buddhism at Kopan Monastery, Nepal, in 1972, since when he has been a student of (the late) Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche and a full time worker for the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT).

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Askold Melnyczuk has been interested in Buddhism since the early seventies and has been involved with Kurukulla since 1999. He's published several novels and edited a number of books, and currently teaches Creative Writing at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

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