Staff Teachers

Merrill Peterson

After encountering Tibetan Buddhism in college, Merrill Peterson has been studying Buddhist teachings and his own mind for now over 50 years. He became a student of Tarthang Tulku in 1970 and has plunged into reading the texts and making the work of preserving Tibetan traditions his main focus in life. He was the Production […]

Jack Petranker

Jack Petranker has been a student of Tarthang Tulku for more than 40 years, and has worked for the Nyingma organizations as an editor, writer, and teacher. A past Dean of the Nyingma Institute in Berkeley, he is now the Director of the Mangalam Buddhist Research Center and the Center for Creative Inquiry, and has […]

George Wiegand

George Wiegand has been a student of our Founder Tarthang Tulku and a full-time volunteer in Nyingma organizations for more than 30 years, as a chef, baker, kitchen manager, temple builder, book binder, and pressman.  He has a Master's of Education in Counseling and has worked as an educator and counselor in several high school systems.  His hobbies include […]

Gloria Baraquio

Born and raised in Hawaii, Gloria has been teaching vinyasa since 2006, studying Tibetan Buddhism since 2004, and singing devotional music since she was a child.  She earned her 200-hour certificate from Yoga Hawaii and her 300-hour training with Raghunath Cappo and Radhanath Swami in India.  Gloria has practiced with spiritual, indigenous, and ancient traditions […]

A Weekend of Self-Care | Memorial Day, Mindful Money: Financial wellness and spiritual wealth for the modern woman, Quiet Spaces: A Winter Retreat,

Christine DeCristofaro

Christine is a former resident volunteer and co-creator of many of Ratna Ling's signature programs. Christine is a passionate listener, truth seeker, fearless warrior against guilt and shame. She feels blessed to live a life where she helps others touch the infinite wisdom that lives inside each of us. Christine believes heath and wellness are achieved with […]

Rosalyn White

Rosalyn White was the Director of Ratna Ling for 7 years.  She has studied meditation and Tibetan art under the guidance of the Tibetan Buddhist teacher, Tarthang Tulku, for over forty years. She holds a BFA in Fine Arts from the California College of Art and a teaching credential from UC Berkeley. She has been […]

Healing Our Planet - A Mother's Day Retreat,