Property:Introbuddhism
From Tsadra Foundation Advanced Contemplative Scholarships
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I started studying Buddhadharma in the Spring 2011 with Mingyur Rinpoche. I was able to join the last retreat he conducted in Hong Kong before leaving for his wondering retreat. In the same year, I have also met my other Teachers: June 2011 and November 2011 Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche (retreats at Gomde UK and Nepal) and in November 2011 I met Tsoknyi Rinpoche at Tergar Osel Ling.
In the same year I started practicing the Joy of Living Programme with Tergar and Tara Triple Excellence with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche's Sangha. This has helped me to establish a regular daily practice right from the beginning. +
I came to Buddhism in 1992 and started to study while I was living in Samye Ling. During this time I attended teachings from HH the Dalai Lama and Tai Situpa Rinpoche. The head monk Tsering Tashi also gave some guidance on the Tibetan alphabet. I also had musical lessons regularly and so can play the Radong, Drums, Kangling and learned to circular breathe. The Sadhanas were taught by Ani Lhamo who is Lama Yeshe Rinpoche's attendant. +
I spent many years "searching" and from the age of about 16 began reading basic books with references to Buddhism, or by Buddhists who had published popular texts for Westerners. I practiced Yoga and Tai Chi and learned some basic meditation from those. After living in California for a few years I began to meet actual Buddhist practitioners and some teachers. I attended a "Cultivating Mindfulness" Retreat with Thich Nhat Hahn, at the Mt. Madonna Center in Watsonville, California in April 1989. Friends invited me to hear Tai Situ Rinpoche, and a few years later another friend introduced me to Lama Tharchin Rinpoche (even before Pema Ösel Ling was founded) and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche in around 1993. I was completely captivated by Dzongzar Khyentse Rinpoche, but he has a way of disappearing and I did not know what to do. I was distracted by worldly things until 2003 when I met Lama Dawa Rinpoche and Khandro Kunzang. Lama Dawa placed my feet firmly on the Vajrayana Path. +
With Lama Djinpa Tarchin at Dag Shang Kagyü, Spain, in 2009. +
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I started studying Buddhism in 2011 when I was 16 years old, in my hometown's Drikung Kagyu sangha in Viña del Mar under the guidance the venerable Khenpo Phuntsok Tenzin Rinpoche and other authorized instructors. +
February 2009 took refuge with Lama Karma at KTD NY March 2009 became a member of Dallas KTC and began studying Lama D. Dorje January 2010 attended first of 12 Ngunge under Lama D.Dorje 2010 received permission to do Ngundro as well as Medicine Buddha empowerment +
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1993, Tibet House, Mexico City +
1999, with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche +
1998, Thrangu Rinpoche +
September 2000 with Friends of Western Buddhist Order in Amsterdam, the Netherlands +
1979 - first Dharma teachings were from Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamptso Rinpoche; my root guru was Trungpa Rinpoche. +
I was born into the Dharma Mandala of Chogyam Trunpa Rinpoche and I was able to receive his blessings as a baby very shortly after. As a young child I spent much time at both Karme Choling, in Vermont, and at Shambala Mountain Center, in Colorado. It was as a small boy of about ten I was fortunate enough to receive teachings and transmissions on the Longchen Nyingtik from Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche during one of his US tours. During my early teen years I completed the first five levels of the Shambhala Training curriculum. In this context I studied and practiced the meditation methods of shamata-vipassana and was introduced to the ideas and methodologies of spiritual warriorship.
In January of 1999 I meditated in my first extended retreat at Karme Choling. At the end of this retreat Khenpo Namdrol gave a teaching on the Four Immeasurables.
In the spring of 1999 I met Garchen Rinpoche while he was teaching in Prescott Arizona. At this time, I understood that I had met a true master. In 2002 I decided to pursue only Dharma in my life, so I set out to find Garchen Rinpoche. I moved to The Garchen Buddhist Institute shortly thereafter.
I lived at The Garchen Buddhist Institute from 2002 until 2008. In the six years I lived there I received numerous transmissions and teachings from Garchen Rinpoche and many other Lamas. I participated in many Drupchens, weekend practices, mantra accumulations and teaching-based retreats. I was able to study the essence of sutra and tantra. During this time I began to study under Traga Rinpoche as well, who was at the time the retreat master at The Garchen Buddhist Institute. From Traga Rinpoche I have also received many teachings and transmissions and his pith instructions during my retreats has proved invaluable. +
I started to study Buddhism after I met my Guru HE Kyabje Garchen Rinpoche in 2003. I've read a lot of Dharma books and have done a lot of different retreats starting from 2003. I have got many teachings and instructions from the following masters: HH Dalai Lama, HH Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang, HH Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang, HE Kyabje Garchen Rinpoche, HE Nubpa Tenzin Rinpoche, HE Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche, HE Chokiy Nima Rinpoche, Drupon Rinchen Dorje Rinpoche, Drupon Tsering Rinpoche, Ven. Lama Thubten Nima. +
I began to study Buddhism in 1995 after meeting His Holiness Dalai Lama. Soon after I begin to study meditation with an African American Lama, Geshe Jampa, from Kurukulla Center in Boston, at Wisdom Publications. This Geshe was one who finished all his studies at Sera Je Monastery in Southern India, however, he did not have the money to graduate and get his final Geshe degree.
Geshe Jampa gave me my first meditational Yidam, Green Tara, as well as instructions on how to recite her mantra, use it to set the right mind for my dream state, which was extremely effective. He also taught me how to transform negative upcoming situations into flower offerings to Tara. This has been my practice throughout many years and It has taken me to integrate mantra with my dealing with conflicting emotions form the start of my life as a Buddhist practitioner.
I also studied with Geshe Tsulga, from Sera Je Monastery. Geshela gave us teachings on Buddhist Philosophy, with his translator and assistant Geshe Jampa, as well as with his translator and scholar, John Dan, in Cambridge Massachusetts.
With the same group of students we hosted Drikung Kagyu Lamas to come to teach us in Cambridge, MA. One of them was very effective in making clear that Milarepa was the Yogi to follow and to take his steps to lead a life in retreat. This Lama (I donÃt recall his name) told us that Milarepa said, that there is no need to shave our heads or change our cloths to become enlightened. Therefore, his teaching gave me the most certainty and inspiration to pursue a life in the Dharma as a lay practitioner and a woman, with the aim of immersing myself in retreat and pursue the life of a yogini to bring the Buddha Dharma to the west. that as a western seasons practitioner.
We also hosted Penor Rinpoche and his attendant, Khenpo Tsewang Gyamtso. Penor Rinpoche gave us many empowerments and his Khenpo gave us teachings that made my heart warm for the Nyingma Lineage. On very dear to me to this day.
I went to KTD for Geshe Tsulga to meet Khenpo Kartar Rinpoche, and that is how I ended up studying with the Karma Kagyus. I did a Mahamudra retreat with Tai Situ Rinpoche for two consecutive years in 1998 and 1999. I was very happy to take the commitment of two hour practice, which I did before going to work. At night, after work, I did my Ngondro very diligently.
Then in year 2000, I studied Buddhist Philosophy and practice with Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, at Jamgon Kontrul Monastery in Nepal. this was the most incredible experience in my life, given that Rinpoche had me in a dream state throughout the three months he gave us teachings every morning. All his teachings were accompanied by singing MilarepaÃs songs of realization, which were RinpocheÃs focus. Followed by Philosophy in Tibetan and English of RinpocheÃs teachings, by his American translator, Ari Goldfield. This was the afternoon cession based on NagarjunaÃs text, Gaining Certainty about the Provisional and Definitive Meaning in the Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma, The Two Truths, and Depending Arising. We also studied Literary Tibetan Language and Grammar through NagarjunaÃs verses. Which we had to memorize, given test during class, and deepen our understanding through RinpocheÃs transmission and loving care during his spontaneous teachings, in the mornings.
At night we all chanted in Tibetan, together with Ari Goldfield, The Aspiration Prayer for the Mahamudra of the Definitive Meaning, composed by Karmapa Rangjung Dorjee.
As you know, in year 2012 I did my first three year retreat in Delhi New York, and in Northern India under Tai Situ Rinpoche, with the instructions of his late Drupon Tsering. Our retreat in Delhi New York had the fortune of receiving all empowerments for the retreat from Tulku Damcho, as well as subsequent visits and teachings on the 21 Taras.
We also were fortunate to have Lodro Nima Rinpoche visit us in retreat two times, he gave us Four Arm Chenrezig empowerment and instructions for practice. I also had a beautiful interview with him where he mentioned that there are many obstacles for those who are doing very profound practices. Lord Niygma Rinpoche encourage me to have the courage of a warrior to pursue my retreat practices as Bhoddhisattvas do. With the mind that wants to liberate all sentient beings at whatever cost. He also recommended me to make sure to finish my retreat no matter what. He could foresee what was coming up for me in retreat.
Therefore, I decided to go to India to meet Karma and Tai Situ Rinpoche to make sure I would fulfill his command and my wish to bring my first retreat to full completion. I am very happy I finished my retreat under Tai Situ Rinpoche, my first Karma Kagyu guru from my Mahamudra retreat in 1998 and 1999.
Unfortunately, we did not received any direct teachings or empowerments from Khenpo Kartar Rinpoche, given that he had us listen to videos he made of his teachings to the first groups he took into retreat. We had the retreat master, the Taiwanese Ani Lodro, to give us the outline of practices, Procedures, as she called them. She also gave us the instructions for Trucker, and was the only Lopong for all fire pumas and at the end of each Deity practice. The official Drupon, Lama Karma, came to give us the lung for the entire retreat, and the American Ani Tsangmo gave us training to play the Gyaling, Lama Karma was not available to teach us the instruments and gave Tsangmo the responsibility of training the group.
I am very thankful for your support at the end of retreat and for being my sponsor throughout retreat. I apologize for not staying in touch and just coming now to apply again for support for my nest there year retreat.
I began to study Buddhism in 2006 with H.E. Garchen Rinpoche. Having met Lama Garchen in Santan Moncinca, Califorinia where I was living and working at the time I felt a strong urge to learn more about him and follow his teachings. Subsequently in 2007 I traveled a twice to Garchen Buddhist Insitute for summer teachings and Vajrakilaya Durpchen. During the later pratice I approached Rinpoche and asked wether to contiute my studies or enter into the traditional three year retreat taking place in Almora, Uttarkhand, India with Drupon Chamspa. This retreat was in the Drikung Kagyu Tradtion. Rinpoche said he would like me to enter retreat, and having complete confidence in the Lama and wanting to experiennce practice at a deepr level I decieded to follow his words. I left for India January 2nd, 2008 and returned from that retreat the end of April, 2011. +
February 2006, Khenpo Norgay Rinpoche and Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche Palyul Nyingma +
1995 - Lama Zopa Rinpoche +
I first started studying Buddhism on my own, through books, mainly Zen, when I was in high school Shunryu Suzuki was a major influence. I tried practicing a little, but found it very difficult due to my restlessness. So although I adopted Buddhism as my religion from that time, I didn't really practice until many years later. I think I needed to suffer in samsara a bit more to be motivated to work through difficulties. In the meantime I was a high level competitive athlete which helped me learn the discipline I now am able to apply to my meditation practice.
Once I started to really practice it was mostly in the western Vipassana tradition, but after doing a 10 day retreat in the SN Goenka style, I could see that my mind would get restless with this and I needed to keep looking. Eventually I came across the Six Yogas of Naropa, and I was intrigued. I started looking for a teacher. Circumstances guided me to Garchen Rinpoche in Arizona, and the first evening after attending teachings I cried, knowing this was what I had been looking for, but also a bit fearful, knowing the significance of finding one's teacher. I got an interview with him and requested permission to begin ngondro, which he did, and I started immediately. +
Personally in 2009 and formally at the Ratna Ling Retreat Center (Tarthang Tulku) in 2010. +
Winter 2003/2004 with Lopon Barbara +
