Irmentraud Schlaffer

Irmentraud Schlaffer, M.A., has been a practising Buddhist for over 30 years. As a teacher she aims to provide a way into Buddhist practice for Western people that is both true to the traditiion, and accessible at the same time. Thus in her books as well as in her courses and talks, the focus is on applying Buddhist principles in modern daily life.

Her latest publication is "Well Connected. Encountering Buddha in Everyday Life" (availabe in Kindle Format). This is an expanded English version of her earlier German work "Mit Buddha in Kontakt. Die Kunst, sich mit der Erleuchtung zu vernetzen". (Arbor Verlag 2010) and was produced in cooperation with David Hutchens, a fellow teacher in the Longchen Foundation. David is also editor of "Never Turn Away. The Buddhist Path Beyond Hope and Fear" by Rigdzin Shikpo (Wisdom Publication 2007).

Irmentraud Schlaffer was born in Germany. In her early twenties she travelled widely through North and South America and Asia, visting many holy places in Thailand, Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka. In 1982, while staying in Sri Lanka, she participated in her first meditation course (Vipassana) and became convinced that this was indeed the right spiritual path for her to follow.

She later began training in the Tibetan Kagyu Tradition, while, in parallel, studying Sanskrit, Pali and Tibetan, History of Religioin and English literature at Berlin University (Freie Universität Berlin). She graduated from Bonn University in 1990 with a Masters degree in Indian and Tibetan Studies and History of Religion. After completing a five-year Buddhist Studies Programme at the Kamalashila Insitute in Germany, she received the title "Dharma Teacher" (skyor dpon) and was given permission to teach on the fundamental ideas, literature and practice of the Karma Kagyu School.

Irmentraud continued practising Buddhist meditation throughout this time, and she also received important empowerments, instructions and blessings from many of the leading Tibetan Kagyu and Nyingma Rinpoches.

She has translated several English language publications into German, including books by Trungpa Rinpoche and Rigdzin Shikpo. She has also taught Classical Tibetan and given talks on Buddhist topics at the Kamalashila Institute. Since 1990 she has published numerous articles in German language Buddhist magazines.

In 1993 Irmentraud met the British Dzogchen master Rigdzin Shikpo (author of "Openness Claritiy Sensitivity" and "Never Turn Away") for the first time. Rigdzin Shikpo is spiritual director of the Longchen Foundation, which was founded in 1976 by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, two of the greates Tibetan teachers of the last century.

Irmentraud became Rigdzin Shikpo's student and translator and has continued her Buddhist training under his guidance since that time. In 2001 Rigdzin Shikpo appointed her as one of the Longchen Foundation teachers. The greatest influences in her own teaching have been Rigdzin Shikpo and his main Tibetan teachers Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche.

Irmentraud is author of two other works: "Buddhismus für den Alltag. Mit entspannter Aufmerksamkeit durch den Tag" (2003) and "Das Herz erwecken. Zwölf Schritte zu einem mitfühlenden Leben (2006). Both are available in paperback and e-book formats.

Irmentraud currently lives in Bonn, Germany, working as author, translator, language trainer and Dharma teacher.

For further information please see:

www.i-schlaffer.de

www.facebook.com/irmentraud.schlaffer