Our Teachers

Here are some short biographies of our teachers in Northern California:

Tessa Logan
John Greenham
Richard Johns
Michael Rollins
Kathleen Thurston
Reed Sherman
Deborah "Bee" Uytiepo
Kevin Otsuka
Paula Kelly
Mary Troyer
Alise Halbert
Sarah Weber
Laura Perrault
Kelsang Gamo
Carroll Child

Our Teacher

Tessa Logan:
     Resident Teacher of San Francisco

Tessa Logan is a senior Buddhist meditation teacher in the New Kadampa Tradition (NKT). After completing her college studies in Cambridge, England, she became one of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's first disciples. She moved to Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Center (the Mother Center of the NKT) in 1977, just when Venerable Geshe Kelsang himself moved there from India. Manjushri KMC in the UK is the largest Kadampa Center in the world, with over one hundred residents and thousands of annual visitors.

Over the last thirty years, Tessa has studied the entire Teacher Training Program, engaged in many meditative retreats, and developed a vast depth of Buddhist knowledge and experience. She has taught extensively at Manjushri Center itself, as well as at Chenrezig Buddhist Center in Lancaster, England (for fifteen years), Keajra Buddhist Center in Blackpool, and Vajravarahi Center in Preston (both for several years.) She has also worked at Manjushri Center in many different areas -- administration, publication of books, and the education program -- and helped to organize the large NKT Summer Festivals for five years.

John Greenham:
Branch Teacher in San Francisco and Palo Alto

John Greenham offers a weekly meditation class in the Inner Sunset district in San Francisco, as well as in Palo Alto. A student of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's for over a decade, John is well-loved for his knowledge, practice and sense of humor.

Richard Johns:
Branch Teacher in San Francisco

Richard Johns is a Buddhist meditation teacher who has been involved with the New Kadampa Tradition for nine years. Richard (also known as RJ) has a very clear understanding of Buddha's teachings. He currently teaches a weekly introductory meditation class in the Lower Haight in San Francisco.

Michael Rollins:
Branch Teacher in San Francisco and Terra Linda

Michael Rollins co-teaches a weekly introductory meditation class in Glen Park and translates our main introductory meditation class on Tuesday evenings from English into Spanish. He also teaches a weekly class in Terra Linda. He began studying with the New Kadampa Tradition in New York in 2001 and since then he has studied in San Francisco, England and Mexico.

Kathleen Thurston:
Branch Teacher in Corte Madera and Mill Valley

Kathleen Thurston has been a disciple of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's for many years. She is a student on the Teacher Training Program at Saraha Center in San Francisco and teaches a weekly class in Corte Madera and Mill Valley. She presents Buddha’s teachings with sincerity and warmth.

Reed Sherman:
Teacher in San Jose, Los Gatos and San Francisco

Reed Sherman began his Buddhist practice in Seattle in 1994. Four years later, he moved to San Francisco and has continued to study, practice and teach in the New Kadampa Tradition. Tessa Logan, the Resident Teacher of Saraha Buddhist Center in San Francisco has appointed Reed to be the Teacher in San Jose and we are very grateful.

Deborah "Bee" Uytiepo:
Branch Teacher in Berkeley, Walnut Creek and Hayward

Bee Uytiepo has been a student of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's since 1997. She began studying at Khandakapala Buddhist Center in Los Angeles and continues to study at Saraha Center in San Francisco. Her approach to teaching is both practical and cheerful. 

Kevin Otsuka: Branch Teacher in San Francisco

Kevin Otsuka is a student at Saraha Center and teaches a meditation class at the LGBT Community Center.  He began studying Buddhism seven years ago at the NKT Buddhist Center in San Diego.  Kevin's teachings are enthusiastic and heart-felt.

Paula Kelly: Kids' Class Teacher in San Francisco

Paula Kelley is a senior student at the Kadampa Buddhist Temple and has 20 years' experience working with children.

 

 

 

Mary Troyer: Branch Teacher in San Jose

Mary Troyer has been studying and practicing Buddhism with the NKT since 2002. She attends both the Duldzin Dragpa Center in San Jose and the Saraha Center in San Francisco. Her style of teaching is earnest and enthusiastic.

Alise Halbert: Branch Teacher in San Francisco

Alise Halbert has been studying with the New Kadampa Tradition for 7 years. She co-teaches a class in Glen Park. She brings a warm heart and a light touch to her teachings.

Sarah Weber - Branch Teacher in San Francisco

Sarah Weber is a devoted, working mother of two daughters. She has been studying at Saraha Center for several years. Her teachings are sincere and lively, showing the depth of her knowledge of Buddhist teachings, as well as her wealth of life experience.

Laura Perrault - Branch Teacher in San Francisco

Laura Perrault has been enthusiastically studying and practicing at Saraha Center for many years. She is well-loved for her warm, clear teachings.

Kelsang Gamo - Administrative Director at Duldzin Dragpa Center

Kelsang Gamo is an ordained nun and the Administrative Director at Duldzin Dragpa Center in San Jose.

 

Carroll Child - Branch Teacher in San Francisco

Carroll is a Foundation Program student at Saraha Buddhist Center and co-teaches the Wednesday evening Branch Class at Fort Mason in San Francisco. He is a long-term Buddhist practitioner, and his engaging teachings emphasize the practical integration of meditation and Buddha's wisdom into our daily lives.