History

The year 2007 was an auspicious time for what is now The Tashi Lhunpo Sangha. This was the year that the Buddhist Lama Khensur Lobzang Tsetan Rinpoche from the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery India stayed at the historical Cowper Inn to officially open the Stanford Kantor Arts Museum. Unbeknownst to the owner of Cowper Inn, Joji Arellano-Santos, her future will be shaped by this destined meeting with Khensur Rinpoche. This meeting blossomed into a deep spiritual connection between the two and prompted Joji to find a dedicated place for spiritual gatherings and yoga practice within the Cowper Inn grounds.  

However, it wasn’t that easy. Like any other fledgling group, Joji found herself lacking in funds to be able to build the Yoga Loft. Fortunately, as was meant to be,  Joji was blessed to have two friends with adequate financial resources who shared the same altruistic mission. Tommy Schroyer, was invaluable in helping create the Yoga Loft as well as the former Valerie Boquet, now deceased. The Yoga Loft arose like a gift from heaven.

In December, 2010 with the inspiring guidance of Khensur Rinpoche, the Yoga Loft officially opened to the community, marking the beginnings of a beautiful Sangha. Khensur Rinpoche held many teachings at the Yoga Loft and a few months later, Robert Fettgather joined the Sangha and became one of the founders, along with Joji Arellano-Santos and Tommy Schroyer. Since that time, the community has grown to almost 1000 members who have contributed and benefited from the Sangha.