Property:Introbuddhism
From Tsadra Foundation Advanced Contemplative Scholarships
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My initial path to Buddhism was a windy one, and it is hard for me to even point to where it started. I recall having the thought ÃIÃm a Buddhistà since I was a small child, though I didnÃt find a teacher and sangha until many years later. My first meditation instructor was my dad, who gave me simple instructions in meditation when I was nine-years-old. I asked for a meditation cushion for my tenth birthday. Unfortunately, I didn't use it much through my teenage years, although I did start reading books on Buddhism. In 2007 and 2008, at Stanford University, I took a two-semester Introduction to Religion course which offered a several week section on Buddhism, as well as a course called ÃTibetan Ritual Life.à This was my first real introduction to Buddhist teachings. Stanford offered a meditation course led by an organization called Art of Living, which helped me start a daily practice. Eventually, in 2009, my friend and I started our own weekly meditation group, which we hosted for two years. A friend in the sitting group brought me to nearby Kannon Do Zen Center, and where I started going occasionally.Then in 2011, at 23-years-old, I moved out to the east coast and discovered Zen Mountain Monastery (ZMM). I went to the introductory weekend, and then started going to the week-long meditation intensives (sesshin) every month. Within a few months I moved in. I lived at ZMM from January 2012 through March 2015. The abbot during that time, and my root teacher, was Konrad Ryushin Marchaj Sensei. Living at ZMM I had the opportunity to study with many teachers, and participate in a retreat nearly every week. Notably, I was able to take several retreats with Acharya Judy Lief, who introduced me to the Vajrayana and teachings of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. During 2014 I started corresponding with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo through letters, as she has been a great inspiration to me. I was able to take two retreats with her during her last US tour, and also take the refuge and lay precept vows with her. Over the last couple years it was becoming increasingly clear to me I wanted to study Tibetan Buddhism, and wanted to do three-year retreat. After the sudden departure of my teacher Ryushin Sensei from ZMM in January 2015, it felt like the door opened for me to leave and explore Tibetan Buddhism. I asked Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo where she recommended I should do three-year retreat, and she said Karme Ling/ KTD. So in January 2015 I met with Lama Lodhro Lama and Khenpo Khartar Rinpoche, and got permission to do three-year retreat and start Ngöndro practice. I moved out of ZMM in March 2015 so that I could focus on preparing for retreat and study more closely with Khenpo Khartar Rinpoche.
I began studying Buddhism in 2002 with Lama Pamela Holtum in Minneapolis, MN. +
I began studying Buddhism in 2002 with Lama Pamela Holtum in Minneapolis, MN. At that time there was a KTC in Minneapolis,
and she was the resident lama. I began taking shamata classes and later learned Ngondro. +
I started to study Buddhism at age 7 in 1972 when I became a monk at Korche monastery in Nangchen,Tibet. I studied with Lama Sapga from 1972 until 1990. +
I started studying in August 2013 when i came to volunteer at KTD during the annual 10 day teaching given by Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche. Most of the practice instructions i have received have been from Khenpo Rinpoche and and nephew Lama Karma Drodul. +
1998, Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen. TTC Hamburg, Germany +
1998, Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen. TTC Hamburg, Germany +
1993, Nyingma Master Adzom Drukpa Thubten Pema Trinley +
I first came to KSDL (Karma Sonam Dargye Ling) monastery in 2003 and studied with one of my main teachers Lama Namse Rinpoche. +
1981, at Stockholm Zen Center, SWEDEN, with "The Water Cloud Sangha." +
I spent most of my teenage years studying on my own, and I officially started studying under a teacher in 2024 with Lama Sangye from Slovakia. +
In 2010 by volunteering at Ratna Ling and Odiyan retreat centers for about a year. We did vigorous physical work in a book bindery as a "skillful means" during the day and were introduced to Buddhist meditation and philosophy at in classes at night. +
Jigme Tromge Rinpoche 2011 +
Jigme Tromge Rinpoche in 2011. I lived, worked and practiced with him and his sangha at the Padmasambhava Peace Insitute. +
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I began to study Buddhism at the age of 16 and received my first teachings and did my first retreats under the guidance of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche and Gyaltrul Rinpoche. +
In 2000 I started the preliminary practices under the guidance of my root teacher Neten Choling Rinpoche.
At that time, I also met Venerable Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche (VDKR) and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche with whom I have been studying. After completing the ngondro I returned to my native country The Netherlands in 2004 where I joined the bi-monthly tsok at Rigpa Amsterdam (not having immediate Sangha then). Over several years I was completing three 100-day retreats of Rigdzen Dupa Sadhana under the guidance of Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. In 2013 VDKR granted to start Dzogchen practices under his guidance.
My practice and study are guided by Dzigar Kongtrul and Neten Choling Rinpoche. With my community brothers and sisters, I study, contemplate and practice the Dharma. +
-Started within the Buddhist Studies program at Naropa University in fall of 1986 with Judith Simmer-Brown, Reggie Ray, John Rockwell, Jules Levinson and many others.
-Became a student of H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche in Spring, 1987.
-Became student of Ven. Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche in fall, 1989. +
1986 at Naropa University. Went to Vajradhatu Seminary 1988, became a student of HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Dzigar Kongtrul Riinpoche in 1989. +
I first began studying Buddhism at Naropa University but left university when I found a Palyul Nyingma center in Boulder, Colorado. I received the Ngondro lung which inspired me to apply for workstudy at the Palyul Retreat Center in New York. I spent one month working for the lineage before retreat began. I began receiving instructions, empowerments and vows from the Palyul throneholder HH Karma Kuchen Rinpoche and Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso. My ngondro teachings were from Tulku Ajam and also Khenpo Tenzin Norgay. After that retreat I entered retreat for 11 months, during which I completed the 500,000 and 1.2 Vajra Guru mantras. I did work study again the following year for another month, which included helping finish the Mingyur Dorje stupa under Tulku Sangngag's direction. I then received Tsalung empowerments, and instructions from Tulku Dawa Rinpoche. Two years later I did Thogal I at Palyul Summer Retreat, and this year I am doing Thogal II. +
My first live teaching was with Lama Lekshe Dorje in Bekescsaba(Hungary), in june 2017, after that I started to listen to his recorded teachings from summer of 2017. Continuous online/live(skype) weekly teachings with Lama Lekshe Dorje since october 2017. I met him for the first time in 2009 while I was working for his cousin. +
