SPIRITUALITY
Discovery
“I went to stay at my grandparents’ house in New Zealand after a traumatic experience and saw an ad in the local paper that said, ‘Free your mind, body and spirit .’ I had a lot of questions and doubts, but I sensed I needed to be freed in all ways. I called the number and a woman answered. I turned up at what turned out to be a Qi-gong class based on meditation. A Chinese man dressed in white was sitting under a tree. Eventually, without any invitation, I began sitting with him. He couldn’t speak English and I couldn’t speak Chinese, so I simply imitated him because there was nothing else I could do.
As I closed my eyes, I began to realize that by mimicking him, my thoughts were dissolving. His presence was very soothing, and I was engaging in resonance with him. I ended up going every day. My mind calmed down, and for the first time, I experienced space between my thoughts.
“My personal journey had become one with my spiritual journey.”
Buddhism
After moving back to Paris, Gabriella continued to search for answers, pondering the meaning of existence and the absence of joy, which led her into a state of isolation and depression. It was during this low point that she was introduced to Tibetan teacher Lama Jigme Rinpoche.
Born into the family of Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, the 16th Karmapa, and brother to the late 14th Shamar Rinpoche, Mipham Chokyi Lodro, Jigme Rinpoche was appointed by the 16th Karmapa as his European representative. He oversees the development of a shedra (university), library, retreat center, and monastery at Dhagpo Kagyu Ling in Dordogne, France, where he is currently the main representative of Trinley Thaye Dorje and head of the monastery. Gabriella was instantly captivated by his laughter and teachings on compassion, which resonated deeply with her.
Shortly thereafter, she took refuge under His Holiness and began studying Tibetan Buddhism and the science of compassion avidly.
“Do not lose your own path;
Do not disturb other’s minds.”
Jigme Rinpoche
Mind & Body
Parallel to her Buddhist studies, Gabriella explored healing techniques to better understand the interplay between mind and body. She discovered Dr. Deepak Chopra’s book “Quantum Healing,” which transformed her understanding of healing. She also studied Reiki Jin Kai Do, a healing system incorporating meditation and hand positions to channel the body’s subtle energy pathways. Over ten years, she practiced this modality, offering private sessions to family and friends, and translated for many spiritual teachers and conferences, bridging spiritual concepts between English and French.
Throughout her journey, Gabriella realized the dominance of male teachers in her studies and yearned for female mentorship. This led her to meet Amma, the Hindu saint, whose active compassion and humanitarian work inspired Gabriella profoundly. Volunteering for Amma’s foundation, she found a role model who embodied how to translate spiritual knowledge into action.
Amma and Gabriella.
“Spirituality starts and ends with compassion.”
Amma
“Spirituality is about the journey and that journey never ends. We experience different levels of consciousness at all times and it is how we perceive reality that frees us from the binding of pain and memory.”
GW
Meditation
Gabriella is a Chopra-certified teacher of Primordial Sound Mantra, a practice derived from the Shankaracharya Vedic tradition, which focuses on deep meditation techniques to foster spiritual growth and inner peace. The technique involves an initiation process during which you receive a unique mantra tailored specifically to you, based on your date, time, and location of birth.
Gabriella actively contributes to the foundation and the Never Alone program by crafting meditations that support both their initiatives and broader humanitarian efforts. She teaches meditation through the foundation’s outreach projects and also offers private sessions. Additionally, for those looking to experience her guided sessions at their convenience, Gabriella’s meditations are available on the Chopra App, making her calming and insightful teachings accessible to a global audience.
The Shankaracharya Vedic tradition stems from the teachings of Adi Shankaracharya, an influential 8th-century philosopher who developed the concept of Advaita Vedanta. This philosophy teaches that the true essence of each individual, or Atman, is identical to Brahman, the ultimate reality. According to this view, the diversity we see in the world is an illusion, a concept called Maya.
Leaders known as Shankaracharyas, who oversee monasteries called Mathas in different parts of India, keep this tradition alive. These Mathas are centers where people learn about ancient scriptures like the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, and practice spirituality. The Shankaracharya tradition not only offers a philosophical outlook but also guides followers on how to live meaningfully, focusing on meditation, ethical behavior, and the quest for spiritual enlightenment.
Vipassana and Tonglen
Gabriella also enriches her meditation teachings by incorporating practices from both the Vipassana and Tonglen traditions, blending deep self-awareness with compassionate outreach.
Vipassana, which means “to see things as they really are,” is one of India’s most ancient techniques of meditation, rediscovered by Gautama Buddha over 2,500 years ago. It is often described as an Art of Living that serves as a universal remedy for various ills. This form of meditation focuses on mindfulness and self-observation, particularly the deep connection between mind and body. Practitioners learn to observe bodily sensations without reacting, aiming to clear the mind of impurities and achieve inner peace. The technique is suitable for everyone and is used to help individuals understand themselves better and make positive changes in their lives through greater self-awareness.
Tonglen is a Tibetan Buddhist meditation practice that involves breathing in the suffering of others and breathing out relief and compassion. The core of Tonglen is the transformation of pain and hardship into compassion and healing, not just for oneself but for all beings. This practice encourages a radical shift in perspective: instead of shunning pain and suffering, one welcomes them as opportunities to develop empathy and spiritual growth. Practitioners visualize taking in the negativity or distress of others on the inhale, and on the exhale, they send out clarity, relief, and positivity. Tonglen is a profound exercise in altruism, aiming to cultivate a deep sense of connection and compassion among all living beings.
SPIRITUALITY
As I closed my eyes, I began to realize that by mimicking him, my thoughts were dissolving. His presence was very soothing, and I was engaging in resonance with him. I ended up going every day. My mind calmed down, and for the first time, I experienced space between my thoughts.
“My personal journey had become one with my spiritual journey.”
Born into the family of Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, the 16th Karmapa, and brother to the late 14th Shamar Rinpoche, Mipham Chokyi Lodro, Jigme Rinpoche was appointed by the 16th Karmapa as his European representative. He oversees the development of a shedra (university), library, retreat center, and monastery at Dhagpo Kagyu Ling in Dordogne, France, where he is currently the main representative of Trinley Thaye Dorje and head of the monastery. Gabriella was instantly captivated by his laughter and teachings on compassion, which resonated deeply with her.
Shortly thereafter, she took refuge under His Holiness and began studying Tibetan Buddhism and the science of compassion avidly.
“Do not lose your own path;
Do not disturb other’s minds.”
Jigme Rinpoche
Throughout her journey, Gabriella realized the dominance of male teachers in her studies and yearned for female mentorship. This led her to meet Amma, the Hindu saint, whose active compassion and humanitarian work inspired Gabriella profoundly. Volunteering for Amma’s foundation, she found a role model who embodied how to translate spiritual knowledge into action.
Amma and Gabriella.
“Spirituality starts and ends with compassion.”
Amma
“Spirituality is about the journey and that journey never ends. We experience different levels of consciousness at all times and it is how we perceive reality that frees us from the binding of pain and memory.”
GW
Gabriella is a Chopra-certified teacher of Primordial Sound Mantra, a practice derived from the Shankaracharya Vedic tradition, which focuses on deep meditation techniques to foster spiritual growth and inner peace. The technique involves an initiation process during which you receive a unique mantra tailored specifically to you, based on your date, time, and location of birth.
Gabriella actively contributes to the foundation and the Never Alone program by crafting meditations that support both their initiatives and broader humanitarian efforts. She teaches meditation through the foundation’s outreach projects and also offers private sessions. Additionally, for those looking to experience her guided sessions at their convenience, Gabriella’s meditations are available on the Chopra App, making her calming and insightful teachings accessible to a global audience.
Leaders known as Shankaracharyas, who oversee monasteries called Mathas in different parts of India, keep this tradition alive. These Mathas are centers where people learn about ancient scriptures like the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, and practice spirituality. The Shankaracharya tradition not only offers a philosophical outlook but also guides followers on how to live meaningfully, focusing on meditation, ethical behavior, and the quest for spiritual enlightenment.
Gabriella also enriches her meditation teachings by incorporating practices from both the Vipassana and Tonglen traditions, blending deep self-awareness with compassionate outreach.
Vipassana, which means “to see things as they really are,” is one of India’s most ancient techniques of meditation, rediscovered by Gautama Buddha over 2,500 years ago. It is often described as an Art of Living that serves as a universal remedy for various ills. This form of meditation focuses on mindfulness and self-observation, particularly the deep connection between mind and body. Practitioners learn to observe bodily sensations without reacting, aiming to clear the mind of impurities and achieve inner peace. The technique is suitable for everyone and is used to help individuals understand themselves better and make positive changes in their lives through greater self-awareness.
Tonglen is a Tibetan Buddhist meditation practice that involves breathing in the suffering of others and breathing out relief and compassion. The core of Tonglen is the transformation of pain and hardship into compassion and healing, not just for oneself but for all beings. This practice encourages a radical shift in perspective: instead of shunning pain and suffering, one welcomes them as opportunities to develop empathy and spiritual growth. Practitioners visualize taking in the negativity or distress of others on the inhale, and on the exhale, they send out clarity, relief, and positivity. Tonglen is a profound exercise in altruism, aiming to cultivate a deep sense of connection and compassion among all living beings.