Peter Lieberson was appointed as one of Lotus Garden’s six lopöns by Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche in 2005. In subsequent years, he taught at Lotus Garden and frequently in Santa Fe where he resided.
Lopön Peter became a student of the Vidyadhara, Chogyam Trunpga Rinpoche in the mid 1970's. In the years to follow, he served as a director of Shambhala Training, later becoming the Director of Shambhala Training International. During that time he also served on the Vajradhatu Board of Directors under Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Peter taught Shambhala Training undergraduate, graduate programs and the Warrior Assembly in the US and Europe for many years. Beginning in the year 2003, Lopön Peter began studying closely with HE Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro, and from that time generously gave of his time and experience in guiding the Santa Fe Lotus Garden Study Group.
Peter was also an award-winning composer whose works were commissioned and performed by major orchestras in the US and Europe. Many of his compositions were inspired by Buddhist themes such as King Gesar (1991) and the opera Ashoka's Dream (1997), both from a series of works based on the lives of enlightened rulers. In December 2007, he won the prestigious 2008 Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition for Neruda Songs, his song-cycle based on poetry of Pablo Neruda which he composed for his late wife and mezzo-soprano, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. One of Peter’s final works, Remembering JFK (An American Elegy), was performed at the Kennedy Center for the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s presidency.
Lopön Peter Lieberson passed away on April 23, 2011. The Lotus Garden sangha has been a most fortunate beneficiary of his wisdom, kindness and grace. In Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche’s own words, he was an example of "a dedicated practitioner and wonderful human being."
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