Cutting Through With Chöd and Exploring A Woman's Role In Dharma with Sunisa Manning
Episode 31 of Redesigning The Dharma by Sahaja Soma features a conversation with Sunisa Manning, Heart Sangha’s guiding teacher.
Sunisa was born and raised in Bangkok in a Theravada Buddhist family with additional Mahayana influence through her Chinese-born grandparents and her mother’s devotion to Guanyin. After an intellectually rebellious college period at Brown, she encountered Tibetan Buddhism at 20, found it more expansive for her as a woman, and later became a student of Anam Thubten in the Nyingma school, eventually being ordained and carrying the Dudjom Lingpa lineage while teaching Chöd.
She describes Vajrayana’s transformative work with afflictive emotions, the purpose of Ngöndro as preparation, and Chöd as Machig Labdrön’s practice of cutting through self via radical generosity and purification; she also teaches a modified “Chöd Healing” ceremony. They discuss adapting lineage practices in the West, obstacles like religious trauma and commitment, cultural differences around generosity, her experience teaching in Thai to women moved by seeing a female teacher, and the need to support young people with contemplative training.
Episode Highlights:- 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
- 01:28 Growing Up Buddhist Thailand
- 05:39 Gender Monastic Limits
- 11:31 What Is Chöd Practice
- 17:09 The Importance of Lineage Versus Open Source
- 19:20 Why Commitment Is Essential In Spiritual Practice
- 23:27 Preparing The Vessel & Teaching Meditation Stamina
- 27:43 Common Student Obstacles
- 31:32 Thailand vs US Dharma Culture
- 35:56 Teaching in Thailand as a Woman
- 45:06 How A Contemplative Practice Can Help The Next Generation
- 46:29 Where to Find Heart Sangha Offerings
Sunisa Manning is the founder and teacher of Heart Sangha. She was born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand, into a Theravada Buddhist family. When she was in college she found Tibetan Buddhism.
Sunisa lived in the Bay Area, practicing and studying the dharma under her teacher Anam Thubten. In 2024 Sunisa was ordained by Anam Thubten in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. She carries the Dudjom lineage, and teaches Chod in English at Heart Sangha, and to Thai students in partnership with Vichak Panich of Vajrasiddha. The Thai group is called Sangha Chod.
As a married mother to two young boys, Sunisa speaks from her experience as a householder and mom.