Our Teachers

​Our spiritual community (Sangha) began under the guidance of Anam Thubten Rinpoche, founder of Dharmata Foundation. At Rinpoche's request, Sue Kochan served as Guiding Teacher from 2008-2022 and continues to serve as Spiritual Advisor, engaging with and guiding the Board of Directors.

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Anam Thubten Rinpoche

Sue Kochan
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​Anam Thubten grew up in Tibet and at an early age began to practice in the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the founder and spiritual advisor of Dharmata Foundation, teaching widely in the US, Europe, and Asia. He is the author of several books, including Embracing Each Moment; No Self, No Problem;; The Citadel of Awareness; and The Haunted Ground.

​Through sharing his wisdom and personal experience on the spiritual path, Anam Thubten brings alive the timeless teachings of Buddhism.

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Sue was inspired to dedicate her life to the path of the Bodhisattva when she first met H.E. Garchen Rinpoche in 1999. In 2008, at the request of her teacher Anam Thubten Rinpoche, she was ordained to teach. Sue is motivated everyday by Dharma Refuge's vision "A World Of Bodhisattvas."

In addition to being a wife, mom, watercolor artist, and Spiritual Advisor at Dharma Refuge, Sue is retired founder and former CEO of a Rochester-based B Corp which is now part of Butler Till Media. Her ​career in advertising and marketing was focused on work with sustainable brands as well as public sector behavior change campaigns designed to reduce energy and water consumption. Sue's public speaking includes topics such as mindfulness; compassion-based leadership; human-centered communications and engagement; corporate social responsibility; public awareness and behavior change; and resource conservation as it relates to climate change.