Teachers

Lineage is an important part of Tibetan Buddhism. It’s the direct pouring of wisdom from teacher to student. Lineage is the alive connection between the teacher’s heart/mind and the disciple’s heart/mind.

Heart/mind: In Tibetan and Thai, when a person says mind, they are referring to their heart. These languages remind people to connect to the greatest wisdom in their being.

“Buddhism is a system of self-governance where you take responsibility for yourself.”

-       Elizabeth Matthis Namgyal

Lineage

Guru Padmasambhava

Yeshe Tsogyal

Machig Lapdron

Longchenpa

Jigme Lingpa

Dudjom Lingpa

Anam Chatral Choying Phuntsok

Choje Jigme Phuntsok

Lama Tsurlo

Lama Garwang

Khenpo Nangdzad Dorje

Khenpo Thubten Tsering Chöpel

Anam Thubten

Anam Thubten grew up in Tibet and at an early age began to practice in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He is the founder and spiritual advisor of Dharmata Foundation, teaching widely in the U.S. and abroad.

His books in English include: Choosing Compassion, No Self No Problem, Into the Haunted Ground, and The Citadel of Awareness. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. Through sharing his wisdom and personal experience on the spiritual path, Anam Thubten brings alive the timeless teachings of Buddhism.

Sunisa Manning

Sunisa Manning was born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand. She was brought up as a Theravada Buddhist, and continues to draw on these roots in her teaching. When Sunisa was in college she began practicing Tibetan Buddhism. About five years later she became a student of Anam Thubten Rinpoche.

Sunisa lived in the Bay Area for 11 years, practicing and studying the dharma under her teacher Anam Thubten. She completed Dharma Leadership Training and Ngondro. Sunisa’s main practice is Machig Lapdron’s Chod.

Sunisa and her family moved to Philadelphia in 2022. In 2024, Anam Thubten asked Sunisa to become a dharma teacher. She was ordained in a ceremony at Dhumatala Temple in August.

Sunisa is a mother to two young boys. She teaches from her everyday experience as a householder and mom.