Gar Drolma Choling Dharma Center

Sara Barrows

Ani Rinchen Khandro Sara Barrows (Dechen Wangmo) has been studying and practicing the Dharma since 2002. In early 2003 she served as the Assistant Director of the Tibetan Meditation Center in Prescott, AZ. During the Summer Teachings of 2003, Sara began serving as a member of the work-study staff at the Garchen Institute in Chino Valley, AZ, and soon after that she completed a hundred-day retreat on the common preliminaries under the guidance of Venerable Traga Rinpoche. Also in the summer of 2003, Sara began studying the Tibetan language with the lamas at the Garchen Institute, including Traga Rinpoche, Gape Lama, Abo, and Bu Nyima.

Sara continued to serve at the Garchen Institute for two years, during which time she studied closely with both Traga Rinpoche and His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche and regularly attended teachings and group practices. She also completed a month long retreat on the uncommon preliminary practice of Vajrasattva. In addition to hearing, contemplating, and meditating, Sara's second year of service at the Garchen Institute was devoted to the construction of the Garchen Institute's new three-year facility.

Sara participated in the first three-year retreat held at the Garchen Institute, from September 2005 to November 2008. She is expecting to obtain her Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities with an emphasis in Tibetan Buddhist Studies from Prescott College in August 2009. She lives in Bloomington, IN, with her fiancé, Eric Fry-Miller.