Title: Queerness in Vajrayana

Guest facilitator: Alimma Dechen Khacho is a Vajrayana Buddhist, artist and workshop facilitator.

They graduated from the Chelsea College of Arts, London. Their art breaks boundaries to explore Tantric manifestations across the mediums of paint, sculpture and film. The celebration of queer life is always central to their work, as it is essential for the spiritual wellbeing of the world.

They are currently training as a Teacher of Ngöndro and the practices of the Dakini’s Whisper community. 

See Alimma’s work here:
ig: @dechen.khacho
web: https://sites.google.com/view/alimma-art

Please register with this link, fill out, and answer the question, and I will approve.
The Conscious Connections will be a regular zoom event until the 5th IQBC in Fall 2025. If you’re interested, send an email to info@iqbc.org.

Title: The Colorful Dharma Birds.
The Message of Amida Sutra.

Guest facilitators: Konen (Jodo Shu) and Jampa (IQBC)

Konen (he, him) belongs to the Jodo-Buddhist community in Germany. Having been a Buddhist for over 30 years, he had his ordination as a monk in 2019 in Tokyo.
He studied Japanese language and translation in Germany and Japan. Apart from Buddhist practice, he writes essays and runs a podcast about Jodo-Buddhism.

Jampa (they, them) or Dr. Jampa Wurst is the founder and organizer of the IQBCs  and their Conscious Connections, a freelance coach and Dharma rapper, and an artist with an online gallery.

Please register with this link, fill out, and answer the question, and I will approve.
The Conscious Connections will be a regular zoom event until the 5th IQBC in Fall 2025. If you’re interested, send an email to info@iqbc.org.

Topic: Art, Societal Boxes, Meditation

Guest facilitators: Jampa Wurst phD (they, them)

Jampa is a learning coach, rapper, and artist or painter with more than 100 paintings in their digital atelier.
Realizing the need for a safe space for queer Buddhists, having been bullied in their Buddhist communities worldwide, they founded the International Queer Buddhist Conferences shortly before the pandemic. Since 2021 the IQBCs have become an annual event.

Topic: Song and Meditation

Guest facilitators: Reina Taina, she, ella

CÁMO, known artistically as LA REINA TAÍNA, is an Afro-Latina Trans artist whose music and spiritual activism embody the essence of “Buddhism is Trans” the title of the coming 4th IQBC in the Fall of this year.
Her work integrates Latin House, Dembow, and electronica with Buddhist teachings of compassion and interconnectedness. Through her art, she challenges societal norms and fosters radical inclusivity, emphasizing the transformative power of spiritual and creative expression. Her performances are a testament to the resilience and joy of Trans identities, promoting healing and unity within the queer Buddhist community. You can check out her work on her website at www.lareinataina.com.

Support Black Trans* Researchers!

Cashapp: $camoisnotdead
Venmo: ctsmooth
Paypal: CÁMOCemi’no

Topic: Feeling Inspired

Guest facilitators: Noire LaZard (she, her) and Jampa Wurst phD (they, them)

Brandi “Noire” La Zard was raised in Houston, Texas. La Zard received her BFA (Individualized Film/Video/Performance and Drawing) from California College of the Arts in San Francisco/Oakland. Her work has been selected and featured in the Creative Quarterly, as one of the national finalists in the Fine Art Professional category for the No. 27 circulation. She’s also featured in WMN Zine publication dedicated to artists living with disabilities. Ms. La Zard exhibited work in the group exhibition Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series – Regional – Houston Museum of African American Culture, Houston, Texas. La Zard currently lives and works in Houston, Texas: „My work explores my life-long curiosity and fascination with form. Specifically, typography and architecture have directly influenced my artistic approach, aesthetic. The forms are created through free association; in addition, predetermined forms are used as the catalyst to develop the overall composition. My studies in graphic design, typography, architecture, abstract constructivism, and pop art have shaped my aesthetic, thus far, in the majority of works to date. Merging gestural mark-making with structured line-drawing dominates the overall composition. In this realm of competing styles of mark-making (gestural, precision mark-making), the works highlight the desire to create freedom, harmony, and balance between those worlds.“

Jampa is a learning coach, rapper, and artist or painter with more than 100 paintings in their digital atelier.
Realizing the need for a safe space for queer Buddhists, having been bullied in their Buddhist communities worldwide, they founded the International Queer Buddhist Conferences shortly before the pandemic. Since 2021 the IQBCs have become an annual event.

Topic: The Hellenistic Influence on Buddhist Art and what it Means in Our Practice
“The basis of art is change in the universe.” -Matsuo Basho

Guest facilitators: Elizabeth (she/her) and Jampa phD (they, them)

Interactive Session

Elizabeth explains: „Autobiographical statements are awkward for me. There are the checklist items: mother, teacher, devotee of Bodhisattva Tara, and practitioner of TM. But the core of my practice is a need for the peace that only spirituality brings. It is like a merchant travelling the Silk Roads. There is the promise of success if the journey is finished and a bit of pleasure awaits at the end of the road but in the meantime, there are deserts to survive and crevasses in mountains not to fall in. And then even at the end of the journey, there are more journeys until the final journey. Like that merchant, I need something to hold onto. I need Bodhisattva. I need meditation. I need a spiritual life. The fearless and the foolish may not but I know the perils of the journey. I need Bodhisattva.”

Jampa is a learning coach, rapper, and artist or painter with more than 100 paintings in their digital atelier.
Realizing the need for a safe space for queer Buddhists, having been bullied in their Buddhist communities worldwide, they founded the International Queer Buddhist Conferences shortly before the pandemic. Since 2021 the IQBCs have become an annual event.

Topic: Contemplating Hope Meditation and Art

Guest facilitators: Sibling Yonten and Jampa Wurst (phD)

Sib. Yonten (they/them) is a self-ordained Buddhist monastic (2017) who’s root traditions are in the Tibetan Kagyu lineage (2008). Though from 2014 has been following teachings of Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh & the Plum Village tradition. Their walking of the Buddha’s path started in 1999 when they attended 3-day Lojong teachings in London, offered by HH the 14th Dalai Lama. They is a Neuro-Diverse & disabled person, a military veteran & part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community also is the representative for PVUK’s newly forming ‘Inclusion circle for Disability and Neurodiversity’.

Jampa is a learning coach, rapper, and artist or painter with more than 100 paintings in her digital atelier.
Realizing the need for a safe space for queer Buddhists, having been bullied in their Buddhist communities, they founded the International Queer Buddhist Conferences shortly before the pandemic. Since 2021 the IQBCs have become an annual event.

Topic: Images that Inspire

Guest facilitator: April Sun (her, she)

April Sun (her, she) is a retired Transwoman that resides on the central coast of California.

“I can say I am inspired by the photos I take. As I live through my journey I feel the images I capture tell a story, a story the viewer can create.  What does a
visual snapshot in time mean to you? What do you feel, what does an image say to you?  You get to create your own story.  Photography to me is an expression of my way of living.”

Topic: Mountain Meditation and Art

Guest facilitators: B Leavitt, they, them and Jampa Wurst, they, them (phD)

B. is a gender-fluid bisexual who holds a 200-hour certification from the Institute of Integral Tai Chi and Qigong and has been leading various practice groups for about 10 years. B. is the parent of 2, an attorney and, if you’re not looking, they may eat your ice cream. Currently, they is giving a Qigong course at loftgaycenter.org.
B will guide the “Mountain Meditation”.
Venmo: @benben214

Jampa is the founder of the IQBCs and their conscious Connections and on the artistic side, Jampa is not only a rapper but also a painter with more than 100 paintings in their digital atelier. For further details about them, s. iqbc.org/organizer-2023/
Jampa will show a painting inspired by a previous “Mountain Mediation” held by B.

Topic: Dance

Guest facilitator: Kaushal Ranasinghe

Kaushal Ranasinghe, a fervent refugee activist in France since 2022, leads The Pact’s global advocacy, focusing on HIV, LGBTIQ, and human rights. They amplify voices, notably youth refugees at the ICPD30 Europe Regional Meeting. As Uproot Scorecard Project Coordinator, Kaushal manages initiatives in eight countries in 2023, leading UPR processes with UNAIDS in four key countries in 2024. Originating from Sri Lanka, they founded Youth for Tomorrow, actively influencing high-level policy changes, including removing penal codes targeting homosexuality. Kaushal’s journey as an HIV-positive LGBTIQ individual adds a personal and powerful dimension to their resilient and empathetic activism. Kaushal is a former journalist and dancing & Yoga teacher too. They won 7th place of Sri Lankan dancing TV competition (City of Dance – TV Derana)

Topic: Poems

Guest facilitator: Tatiana Adams

Hello everyone my name is Tatiana my pronouns is she/her/hers.And I’m
calling from NYC 22 years of age and my favorite thing to do is to write
poems and read poetry because of how poetry can symbolize so many things
and it could lead to see universal message.