The Chintamani project was started by:

Gisela Peters Castilla
She holds a PhD in psychoanalytic psychotherapy and works as a psychotherapist for adolescents and adults. She is a Buddhist, a meditation practitioner since 1982, and a great animal lover.  She’s inspired by the Bodhisattva ideal. Gisela supports some of the projects of the Western Buddhist Order in Mexico. 

Saddhajoti
Member of the Western Buddhist Order since 2006. She is a biologist, with a great passion towards nature and a deep interest in its functioning. At present she is a full-time researcher in ecology at the National University of Mexico. Saddhajoti has been a Dharma and meditation practitioner since 1995. Currently she is involved in many of the activities of the Mexico City Buddhist Centre.

The Western Buddhist Order was founded by the Venerable Urgyen Sangharakshita in 1967. Sangharakshita, of British origin, is one of the most renowned Western Buddhist teachers. Nowadays, the Western Buddhist Order has over 2000 members, men and women, of approximately 20 different nationalities. Among them are 12 Mexican Order Members, most of which live in Mexico. Many of the activities of the Mexican Order Members are reflected in the projects of the Mexico City Buddhist Centre, Yogaespacio and Chintamani.

Photographs by  Gretel Keller, Serioshka Hellmund and Mario Peña