Dear Shambhala Sangha,
Our community has experienced an incredible loss. We write with heavy hearts to share that Lady Diana Mukpo – wife and widow of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, mother, grandmother, accomplished equestrian, and steadfast protector of the Shambhala teachings and vision – passed away surrounded by family and close friends at her home in Florida on September 11.
Lady Diana’s life was inseparably intertwined with the life and vision of the late Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the founder of Shambhala. Reflecting on their marriage, she once remarked, “It was not always easy to be the guru’s wife, but I must say, it was rarely boring.” At just 16, she left her English upbringing to join a Tibetan teacher who was forging a pioneering path as a Buddhist teacher in the West. It was largely due to her encouragement and bravery that they arrived in Montreal, Canada in 1970, later settling in Vermont with the support of early students. Diana and Rinpoche shared home, children, family life, and 17 years of profound partnership until the death of Chögyam Trungpa in 1987.
Beyond her role as Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s devoted partner and wife, Lady Diana was a trailblazer in the world of equestrian arts – one of the few women to train at the prestigious Spanish Riding School in Vienna. She competed internationally and devoted herself to teaching equestrian arts to others with great care and passion throughout her life.
Lady Diana – played a vital role in the transmission of Shambhala teachings, traveling with Chögyam Trungpa to countless retreats and seminars and offering her own teachings, advice and presence. In more recent years she was an insightful transmitter of the Shambhala teachings herself, leading Warrior Assemblies and other programs that brought students closer to her and the tradition of Shambhala teachings. She had a particular love for Shambhala Household teachings and practices, embodying the principle that beauty and sacredness arise not from extravagance, but from wholehearted attention to the details of everyday life.
She leaves behind a legacy of courage, grace, and unwavering devotion to the dharma and Shambhala vision – a life that continues to inspire. She is survived by her husband Dr. Mitchell Levy, and her children Tagtrug, Gesar, Chandali, Ashoka, and David, as well as 5 grandchildren.
