Meet our Team

Tamás Schieszler

Board Member — President

Tamás from Budapest, born in 1969, is a seasoned master coach, consciousness facilitator, and advocate for compassion. His mission is to nurture individuals through transformative journeys, fostering compassion for themselves and their immediate surroundings. With over a decade immersed in the teachings of Vajrayāna Buddhism... Tamás from Budapest, born in 1969, is a seasoned master coach, consciousness facilitator, and advocate for compassion. His mission is to nurture individuals through transformative journeys, fostering compassion for themselves and their immediate surroundings. With over a decade immersed in the teachings of Vajrayāna Buddhism and coaching practices, Tamás firmly believes that compassion lies at the heart of our true humanity. Having guided more than a hundred clients in reflecting on their inner worlds and reshaping their inner narratives, he brings a wealth of real-world experience to his work. With a background in engineering and business leadership, including an MSc in Informatics and an MBA, Tamás has held roles as an IT engineer, IT architect, team leader, and Chief Organizational Officer. In his thirties, he co-founded a consulting company specialising in project management and organisational development. Transitioning into coaching in his forties, Tamás achieved certification as a Professional Certified Coach in 2013 and later as a Master Certified Coach in 2021, developing a coaching style that merges systemic coaching, Solution Focus, Gestalt Coaching, and Buddhist Psychology. Read More

Stella Katharina Klell

Board Member — Treasurer

Stella from Graz currently works as an occupational therapist in a mental health clinic in Austria. As a lifelong Buddhist, Stella is dedicated to Dzokden’s principles, values, and activities. Growing up with buddhist parents, she has followed the creation and development of the Kalapa Retreat... Stella from Graz currently works as an occupational therapist in a mental health clinic in Austria. As a lifelong Buddhist, Stella is dedicated to Dzokden’s principles, values, and activities. Growing up with buddhist parents, she has followed the creation and development of the Kalapa Retreat Center since her early childhood. Stella’s first contact with Shar Khentrul Rinpoche was in 2016 when he gave teachings in Graz and the Kalachakra Empowerment at Kalapa. She intensified her volunteer work in 2021 when she joined the German-speaking translator Team of Dzokden as a translator and interpreter, later becoming the coordinator for all German translations. Stella also lived and worked in Dzokden Kalapa in 2023 as a short-term resident volunteer. In April 2024, Stella joined the board of Dzokden Kalapa. Read More

Thomas Mocka

Board Member — Secretary

Thomas, of German and Colombian origin, lives in Berlin, Germany, where he works as a photographer and videographer. During a trip to India, he discovered an interesting object in a shop. Intrigued and fascinated by it, he conducted research to learn that it was a... Thomas, of German and Colombian origin, lives in Berlin, Germany, where he works as a photographer and videographer. During a trip to India, he discovered an interesting object in a shop. Intrigued and fascinated by it, he conducted research to learn that it was a three-dimensional Kalachakra maṇḍala. Coincidentally, a few weeks later, Shar Khentrul Rinpoche was conducting a Kalachakra Empowerment in Vienna. Lacking any spiritual background, the ritual initially confused him; however, after studying the book series “Unveiling Your Sacred Truth” as advised by Rinpoche, he received a solid foundation in Buddhism. Meeting various inspiring teachers in the practice groups and courses served as further motivation to transform his professional life and to continue on the path, with strong faith in the Kalachakra teachings. Read More

Yeshe (Chloe) Wangmo (Bregman)

Advisor — Dzokden Board, Kalapa Webmaster

Yeshe Wangmo (Chloe Bregman) has over 20 years of experience in Corporate leadership, Product Design, and Agile Transformation. Previously, she was an Enterprise Agile Transformation Coach for a Fortune 500 company and Dir. Design at Onelogin. She brings her experience building teams and technology products... Yeshe Wangmo (Chloe Bregman) has over 20 years of experience in Corporate leadership, Product Design, and Agile Transformation. Previously, she was an Enterprise Agile Transformation Coach for a Fortune 500 company and Dir. Design at Onelogin. She brings her experience building teams and technology products to Shar Khentrul Rinpoche’s global community. Yeshe Wangmo has over 680 hours in yoga teacher training. She has completed two years of meditation teacher training with Culadasa of the Mind Illuminated. In 2016, Yeshe Wangmo created Rimé Kalachakra for supporting Shar Khentrul Rinpoche’s Sangha activities in the US and later founded Dzokden in 2018. Since 2019 she works full-time creating Dzokden according to Rinpoche’s vision while at residence at the Tibetan Buddhist Rimé Institute in Australia. She is Shar Khentrul Rinpoche’s main secretary and an advisor to the Dzokden Kalapa board as well as Dzokden Shambhala. Her active contributions to Dzokden Kalapa include the redesign of the Kālachakra Temple, which she conceived together with Rinpoche in 2022. Read More

Rafa Lobsang Dorje

Operational Team — Program Coordinator, Kālachakra-Ngondro Teacher, Retreat Leader. [For Dzokden: Coordination and Edition of new Translations English-Tibetan.]

Rafa Lobsang Dorje (Rafael Nassif) began his contact with Buddhism in 2008, after practicing in other systems of spiritual practice in his homeland Brazil. In Europe, India, Mongolia, Nepal, and Tibet he had precious opportunities to receive teachings, transmissions, and empowerments from masters from all... Rafa Lobsang Dorje (Rafael Nassif) began his contact with Buddhism in 2008, after practicing in other systems of spiritual practice in his homeland Brazil. In Europe, India, Mongolia, Nepal, and Tibet he had precious opportunities to receive teachings, transmissions, and empowerments from masters from all schools of Tibetan Buddhism as well as from the Theravāda Tradition, taking part in different group and solitary retreats. He was fortunate to meet his precious Guru Jamphel Lodrö (Shar Khentrul Rinpoche) in Austria in 2015, from whom he has been receiving a vast and profound wealth of Dharma, from the foundational subjects through the Kalachakra Vajra Yogas. Since 2016 he has been teaching Lu Jong (Tibetan Healing Yoga). In 2018 he received authorisation from Rinpoche to teach the Dharma. Since 2020 he reduced his professional activities as a composer in order to serve the altruistic ideals of Rinpoche as a resident at Kalapa. He supports the community in various areas based on his previous professional background as a cultural entrepreneur, artistic and executive director, curator, editor/publisher, producer, performer, and educator in the music field. Read More

Kerstin Chöwang Drolma

Operational Team — Office, Business & Project Management; Yoga Teacher.

Born in Vienna, Kerstin has studies in International Management & Administration, and a Master of Arts in Intercultural Competencies. She has worked for international organizations as a Program Manager, Advisor & International Peace worker within the fields of Education and Human Rights. She became acquainted... Born in Vienna, Kerstin has studies in International Management & Administration, and a Master of Arts in Intercultural Competencies. She has worked for international organizations as a Program Manager, Advisor & International Peace worker within the fields of Education and Human Rights. She became acquainted with Buddhism in 2012 at the Institute Vajra Yogini (France) and attended an introduction to Buddhism at Tushita in Dharamsala. Afterward she attended various teachings and retreats at different Buddhist Centers worldwide. In 2022 she had the opportunity to visit the Dzokden Kalapa Retreat Center while volunteering. After receiving empowerments with Shar Khentrul Rinpoche and being introduced to the Kalachakra Path, she made the decision to deepen her path accordingly. Kerstin became a resident at Kalapa in 2023 and supports her Guru’s vision and mission by offering the knowledge and experience from her professional background, as well as by guiding a weekly Hatha Yoga class to the locals at Kalapa. Read More

Daniele De Val

General Assembly — Book Keeping Auditor for Dzokden Kalapa; [for Dzokden: Italian Translation Team — texts and live interpretation]

Born in Trieste, with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in communication, Daniele embarked on his spiritual journey in 2015, exploring various wisdom traditions. Soon after, he encountered Buddhism, which marked a significant turning point in his life. His path took a transformative turn in 2018,... Born in Trieste, with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in communication, Daniele embarked on his spiritual journey in 2015, exploring various wisdom traditions. Soon after, he encountered Buddhism, which marked a significant turning point in his life. His path took a transformative turn in 2018, when he met Shar Khentrul Rinpoche in Rome and embraced the profound practice of Kalachakra. Since then, he has been committed to following this precious spiritual path. From 2020, he began volunteering for Dzokden, with the aim of helping to spread this invaluable path. Dedicated to translating Dzokden’s online events, prayers and Rinpoche’s books into Italian, he strives to make these teachings accessible to the Italian-speaking audience Read More

Magda Toader

General Assembly — Book Keeping Auditor for Dzokden Kalapa; [for Dzokden: Romanian Translation Team]

Magdalena lives in Bucharest, Romania. The year 2007 was the year when the practice and study of Qigong Arts opened her path toward Buddhism. Two years later, with amazement and deep gratitude, she met her first Tibetan Master from the Mahayana tradition, FPMT, in Pitești.... Magdalena lives in Bucharest, Romania. The year 2007 was the year when the practice and study of Qigong Arts opened her path toward Buddhism. Two years later, with amazement and deep gratitude, she met her first Tibetan Master from the Mahayana tradition, FPMT, in Pitești. This was followed by years of Mahayana study and practice with various Masters, giving her the determination and aspiration to understand and apply Bodhicitta.
In 2015, a year full of meaning and auspicious signs, she had the honor and privilege to meet the precious Master Shar Khentrul Rinpoche Jamphel Lodrö, devoted to the Kalachakra path of the Jonang–Shambhala Tradition.
Since then, she has continuously followed him, engaging in various activities such as establishing and supporting Sangha Romania, translation work, Kalapa volunteering, event volunteering, organizing the Sacred Dakini Dances, drawing and painting, organizing events in Romania, as well as founding the Romanian Center.
Her professional training is in the financial-accounting field, with more than 30 years of experience – for which she is deeply grateful – which has offered her a solid foundation to apply this experience also to the financial aspect of the Dzokden Pundarika Association. Read More