Hamish Simon Edward Maclaren
15 June 1949 – 28 September 2026
Born and raised in Ayrshire Scotland, Hamish was an adventurer at heart. He lived and worked in Scotland, England, France, Brussels, Sardinia, Rio de Janeiro, Nova Scotia, and Boulder, Colorado, where he eventually settled and raised his two daughters, Sophie and Tessa, with his ex-wife Kerry MacLean. He first encountered Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s teachings when a fellow traveler gave him a copy of Meditation in Action while in South America in 1979. He then hitchhiked to Boulder to meet him, eventually becoming a Kusung to the Vidyardara, and the current Sakyong, then Sawang. His life was changed forever when he suddenly became paralyzed while visiting his family for Christmas in Scotland in 1983. He remained paralyzed from the heart level down for the remainder of his life, living almost 43 years, completely self-sufficiently, in a wheelchair. Far surpassing even the most optimistic doctors’ predictions.
Hamish started his career in hotel management, but later attended Naropa University for both a bachelor’s and master’s in contemplative psychology, and went on to teach in those programs. He volunteered at the Boulder Crisis Center, helping those in situations of extreme psychological distress. Hamish’s life was defined by devotion to the Shambhala Buddhist teachings and his teachers Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. He also felt a close connection to His Holiness the 16th Karmapa after serving him as Kusung during his US visit.
Hamish was a staple as both a practitioner and teacher at Dorje Dzong (now the Boulder Shambhala Center), and the land, now Drala Mountain Center. He staffed 10 dathuns and 6 seminaries in both MI and teaching roles, along with many other programs, and directed Shambhala Training levels and SSBS classes. He worked tirelessly on the Sakyong’s Council advocating for accessibility and disability inclusion in all Shambhala programs and centers.
Prior to his paralysis, he was an enthusiastic sailor, skier, and general adventurer. Even after his illness, with some assistance, he managed to ski, water ski, snorkel, and scuba dive with his daughters. He had a delightfully British sense of humour, a very quick wit and sharp intellect, an incredible memory for all things British history, family genealogy, and Dharma, and a remarkable will to keep going. He was exceptionally determined to not let his paralysis inhibit his life, as he said, he would, “just get on with it.” Hamish was very humble and always seemed baffled when people said they found him inspiring. He was fundamentally kind, elegant, uplifted, and dignified, a true Scottish gentleman.
Hamish was a deeply loving and devoted father. He said he was not afraid of dying, but would never feel ready to leave his daughters. He is survived by those beloved daughters, Sophie and Tessa, his granddaughters Eloise and Lucy, his sister Susan, his brothers Simon and Robert, and his son-in-law Sasha, as well as his extended family through his good friend and ex-wife, Kerry MacLean, her husband Hector, and their daughter Kelly, her husband James, and their sons Colin and Lachlan.
His sukhavati funeral ceremony will be held at the Boulder Shambhala Center, tomorrow (Thursday), October 1st, at 5 pm MTN. You are welcome to join in person in the Main Shrine Room or to connect via Zoom. Please use this link to join remotely today.
The community is also invited to practice with Hamish’s body at the Boulder Shambhala Center beginning at 1pm on Thursday.
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