Amanda Russel is a dedicated student of Buddhism, and has worked at Maitripa College since 2015. Amanda lived and studied at Land of Medicine Buddha, Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s center in the Santa Cruz, California, from 2011-2012, and went on to work for the FPMT’s Maitreya Heart Shrine Relic Tour for two years, touring with Buddhist relics in the US, Canada, and Mexico. She attended the annual November Course at Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu in 2014 and spent 11 months in India and Nepal completing various retreats.

“My only purpose for practice is to be able to help others more fully, love fully, and assist in ways that I can to alleviate suffering and attain enlightenment for the sake of others. This is the only goal that matters.”