What we’re about
Awaken in Toronto is a community of individuals dedicated to awakening in this lifetime. We practice Vajrayana Buddhism, which means that along with the study and practice of the Vajrayana path, we enjoy exploring a wide range of topics helping us to unfold spiritually.
We hold weekly online Zoom classes led by Lama Linda or one of our senior students to study, meditate and explore topics that can help lead to awakening.
We also offer weekend meditation retreats several times through the year at the Dharma Centre of Canada . This allows us to explore in greater depth some of life’s questions.
We also join together from time to time for discussion groups on topics such as Dying and Death, IFS and Integral Spirituality as well as explorations of art, music and recreational events.
Learn more on our website: awakenintoronto.org
To join our mailing list click here.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Foundations of Vajrayana Buddhism: Extraordinary & Preliminary PracticesLink visible for attendees
Instructor: Lama Linda
Dates: September 3, 10, 17, 24
New Link to Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87469872916?pwd=dW45sm68Mj6aOeNWT2TYvJk32Wo4OX.1
Meeting ID: 874 6987 2916 Password: 108108Vajrayana Buddhism offers a direct, transformative path to awakening, drawing on profound meditations, mantra, and visualization to unlock the mind’s innate clarity and compassion. In this 4-week series, we explore the essential foundations—both the extraordinary and preliminary practices—that prepare us for deeper meditation work and ensure that our practice rests on solid ground. These teachings come from the Namgyal Rinpoche lineage, known for weaving traditional Vajrayana with contemporary insight and experiential depth. This series offers a balanced blend of explanation, guided meditation, and discussion, making it accessible for both those new to Vajrayana and seasoned practitioners wishing to refresh and deepen their foundations.
Insert link to slides
Classes are offered on the ancient basis of Dana, also known as "give from the heart" or "pay what you choose." This allows you to pay according to your heart, and to what you value. Dana can be sent by e-transfer to dana@awakenintoronto.org or by PayPal to https://paypal.me/awakeningintoronto
Teacher Bio: Lama Linda (Linda Hochstetler) has studied both mindfulness meditation and Vajrayana Buddhism for more than a quarter century. She trained in mindfulness meditation with Jon Kabat-Zinn in the 90s and studied under Namgyal Rinpoche (the first Canadian-born Rinpoche) from 1995 until his death in 2003. She has received permission to teach in the Namgyal lineage and studied Vajrayana Buddhism with Qapel (Doug Duncan) who resided at Clear Sky Meditation and Retreat Centre in Cranbrook, BC, before his death in 2024. Lama Linda is a registered social worker with a specialty in illness, dying and death. Along with a thriving private practice she has written and been interviewed on the subject of dying and death. In 2021 she authored her first book - 21 Days to Die: The Canadian Guide to End of Life. She is a mother, wife, and friend to many, and encourages students to use their relationships to love deeply and explore dharma fully. She enjoys weaving together her Buddhist practices with Western psychotherapeutic practices to help students make transformative changes in their lives. www.lindahochstetler.com.
- Foundations of Vajrayana Buddhism: Extraordinary & Preliminary PracticesLink visible for attendees
Instructor: Lama Linda
Dates: September 3, 10, 17, 24
New Link to Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87469872916?pwd=dW45sm68Mj6aOeNWT2TYvJk32Wo4OX.1
Meeting ID: 874 6987 2916 Password: 108108Vajrayana Buddhism offers a direct, transformative path to awakening, drawing on profound meditations, mantra, and visualization to unlock the mind’s innate clarity and compassion. In this 4-week series, we explore the essential foundations—both the extraordinary and preliminary practices—that prepare us for deeper meditation work and ensure that our practice rests on solid ground. These teachings come from the Namgyal Rinpoche lineage, known for weaving traditional Vajrayana with contemporary insight and experiential depth. This series offers a balanced blend of explanation, guided meditation, and discussion, making it accessible for both those new to Vajrayana and seasoned practitioners wishing to refresh and deepen their foundations.
Insert link to slides
Classes are offered on the ancient basis of Dana, also known as "give from the heart" or "pay what you choose." This allows you to pay according to your heart, and to what you value. Dana can be sent by e-transfer to dana@awakenintoronto.org or by PayPal to https://paypal.me/awakeningintoronto
Teacher Bio: Lama Linda (Linda Hochstetler) has studied both mindfulness meditation and Vajrayana Buddhism for more than a quarter century. She trained in mindfulness meditation with Jon Kabat-Zinn in the 90s and studied under Namgyal Rinpoche (the first Canadian-born Rinpoche) from 1995 until his death in 2003. She has received permission to teach in the Namgyal lineage and studied Vajrayana Buddhism with Qapel (Doug Duncan) who resided at Clear Sky Meditation and Retreat Centre in Cranbrook, BC, before his death in 2024. Lama Linda is a registered social worker with a specialty in illness, dying and death. Along with a thriving private practice she has written and been interviewed on the subject of dying and death. In 2021 she authored her first book - 21 Days to Die: The Canadian Guide to End of Life. She is a mother, wife, and friend to many, and encourages students to use their relationships to love deeply and explore dharma fully. She enjoys weaving together her Buddhist practices with Western psychotherapeutic practices to help students make transformative changes in their lives. www.lindahochstetler.com.
- Foundations of Vajrayana Buddhism: Extraordinary & Preliminary PracticesLink visible for attendees
Instructor: Lama Linda
Dates: September 3, 10, 17, 24
New Link to Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87469872916?pwd=dW45sm68Mj6aOeNWT2TYvJk32Wo4OX.1
Meeting ID: 874 6987 2916 Password: 108108Vajrayana Buddhism offers a direct, transformative path to awakening, drawing on profound meditations, mantra, and visualization to unlock the mind’s innate clarity and compassion. In this 4-week series, we explore the essential foundations—both the extraordinary and preliminary practices—that prepare us for deeper meditation work and ensure that our practice rests on solid ground. These teachings come from the Namgyal Rinpoche lineage, known for weaving traditional Vajrayana with contemporary insight and experiential depth. This series offers a balanced blend of explanation, guided meditation, and discussion, making it accessible for both those new to Vajrayana and seasoned practitioners wishing to refresh and deepen their foundations.
Insert link to slides
Classes are offered on the ancient basis of Dana, also known as "give from the heart" or "pay what you choose." This allows you to pay according to your heart, and to what you value. Dana can be sent by e-transfer to dana@awakenintoronto.org or by PayPal to https://paypal.me/awakeningintoronto
Teacher Bio: Lama Linda (Linda Hochstetler) has studied both mindfulness meditation and Vajrayana Buddhism for more than a quarter century. She trained in mindfulness meditation with Jon Kabat-Zinn in the 90s and studied under Namgyal Rinpoche (the first Canadian-born Rinpoche) from 1995 until his death in 2003. She has received permission to teach in the Namgyal lineage and studied Vajrayana Buddhism with Qapel (Doug Duncan) who resided at Clear Sky Meditation and Retreat Centre in Cranbrook, BC, before his death in 2024. Lama Linda is a registered social worker with a specialty in illness, dying and death. Along with a thriving private practice she has written and been interviewed on the subject of dying and death. In 2021 she authored her first book - 21 Days to Die: The Canadian Guide to End of Life. She is a mother, wife, and friend to many, and encourages students to use their relationships to love deeply and explore dharma fully. She enjoys weaving together her Buddhist practices with Western psychotherapeutic practices to help students make transformative changes in their lives. www.lindahochstetler.com.
- Foundations of Vajrayana Buddhism: Extraordinary & Preliminary PracticesLink visible for attendees
Instructor: Lama Linda
Dates: September 3, 10, 17, 24
New Link to Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87469872916?pwd=dW45sm68Mj6aOeNWT2TYvJk32Wo4OX.1
Meeting ID: 874 6987 2916 Password: 108108Vajrayana Buddhism offers a direct, transformative path to awakening, drawing on profound meditations, mantra, and visualization to unlock the mind’s innate clarity and compassion. In this 4-week series, we explore the essential foundations—both the extraordinary and preliminary practices—that prepare us for deeper meditation work and ensure that our practice rests on solid ground. These teachings come from the Namgyal Rinpoche lineage, known for weaving traditional Vajrayana with contemporary insight and experiential depth. This series offers a balanced blend of explanation, guided meditation, and discussion, making it accessible for both those new to Vajrayana and seasoned practitioners wishing to refresh and deepen their foundations.
Insert link to slides
Classes are offered on the ancient basis of Dana, also known as "give from the heart" or "pay what you choose." This allows you to pay according to your heart, and to what you value. Dana can be sent by e-transfer to dana@awakenintoronto.org or by PayPal to https://paypal.me/awakeningintoronto
Teacher Bio: Lama Linda (Linda Hochstetler) has studied both mindfulness meditation and Vajrayana Buddhism for more than a quarter century. She trained in mindfulness meditation with Jon Kabat-Zinn in the 90s and studied under Namgyal Rinpoche (the first Canadian-born Rinpoche) from 1995 until his death in 2003. She has received permission to teach in the Namgyal lineage and studied Vajrayana Buddhism with Qapel (Doug Duncan) who resided at Clear Sky Meditation and Retreat Centre in Cranbrook, BC, before his death in 2024. Lama Linda is a registered social worker with a specialty in illness, dying and death. Along with a thriving private practice she has written and been interviewed on the subject of dying and death. In 2021 she authored her first book - 21 Days to Die: The Canadian Guide to End of Life. She is a mother, wife, and friend to many, and encourages students to use their relationships to love deeply and explore dharma fully. She enjoys weaving together her Buddhist practices with Western psychotherapeutic practices to help students make transformative changes in their lives. www.lindahochstetler.com.