Christie Cashman

Christie first encountered the dharma as a young girl.  During a long stay in Japan she made daily visits to Buddhist temples and shrines and began to feel a deep connection with the penetrating quietude of these environments. It was years later, while studying at the University of California in Berkeley, that Christie learned to meditate, starting a daily practice of zazen with Suzuki Roshi.  Eventually, she picked up Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche's  Meditation in Action.  Learning of Rinpoche's "resonant and outrageous" lifestyle, she sold her belongings, packed a little bag and moved to Boulder, Colorado to become his student. That was January 1971.


Christie's life soon began to revolve around month long meditation retreats, intensive study, and teaching a full range of courses-from introductory meditation intensives at Naropa University to Vajrayana sadhana classes and Shambhala Training levels. For many years she taught at the annual three-month Vajradhatu Seminary and worked closely during that time with Rinpoche on course curriculum design and implementation. During the 17 years she resided in Boulder, Christie worked full-time in Trungpa Rinpoche's administration.

In 1987, when Christie moved to Nova Scotia,  she spent a good part of each year in solitary retreat to delve further into the study and practice of the Shambhala terma tradition and vajrayana practice.  During this time, she taught several Warrior Assemblies and worked in the areas of environmental protection and dispute resolution before serving as Shambhala Training International's Executive Director from 1999 to 2003.  Christie is a Governor of the Council of Warriors, and has taught at several Kalapa Assemblies.  She holds the acharya post on the Shambhala Care and Conduct Panel, which works to bring the principles of restorative justice to the Shambhala community. Under the guidance of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, she continues to engage in Shambhala and Buddhist curriculum development and the training of teachers. Christie lives with her husband in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Teaching Schedule

2008
May 24 - 25 Washington DC Gesar Retreat
May 26 Washington DC Vajrayogini
May 29 Washington DC Great Eastern Sun and Bodhisattva Path
Jun 9 - 12 Karme Choling Acharya Retreat
July 13 - 27 Shambhala Mountain Center Dzogchen Retreat
Aug 26 - Sep 1 Dorje Denma Ling Vajra Garchen - Vajrayogini
Oct 10 - 13 Boston Werma Retreat
Oct 17 - 19 Atlanta Maitri Space Awareness


Books