Property:Introbuddhism
From Tsadra Foundation Advanced Contemplative Scholarships
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I began studying Buddhism in 1985 at Karme Choling in Barnet, VT during a week-long Vajrayana retreat associated with Johnson State College in Johnson, VT. This required a basic study of Mahayana practice as an introduction to Shamatha/Vipassana meditation. I continued this practice for some years and later studied Vajrayana Practices with Prof. Reginald Ray for 3 semesters at the University of Colorado, Boulder. In 1995, I entered the Contemplative Psychotherapy program at Naropa Institute, Boulder CO. In 1996 received teachings from Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, and soon after from Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche (1996). In 1997 attended a 100-day closed "Maitri Retreat" within the context of the Contemplative Psychology Program Naropa Inst. During the next several years, I received empowerments in: Yeshe Tsogyal, Trekcho, and in the practice of Gesar from Namkha Drimed Rinpoche. Commitments in these practices were fulfilled. After I received refuge from Lama Tharchin Rinpoche- POL +
Study of Buddha-dharma in 1985 at Karme Choling in Barnet, VT during a week-long Vajrayana retreat associated with Johnson State College in Johnson , VT. This required a basic study of Mahayana practice as an introduction to Shamatha/Vipassana meditation. I continued this practice for some years and later studied Vajrayana Practices with Prof. Reginald Ray for 3 semesters at the University of Colorado, Boulder. In 1995, I entered the Contemplative Psychotherapy program at Naropa Institute, Boulder CO. In 1996 received teachings from Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, and soon after from Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche (1996). In 1997 attended a 100-day closed "Maitri Retreat" within the context of the Contemplative Psychology Program Naropa Inst. During the next several years, I received empowerments in: Yeshe Tsogyal, Trekcho, and in the practice of Gesar from Namkha Drimed Rinpoche. Commitments in these practices were fulfilled. Soon after, I received refuge from Lama Tharchin Rinpoche. +
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1998 with Aong Tulku Rinpoche +
I first encountered Buddhism in Mcloed Ganj, Dharamsala in 1991. I participated in a ten day 'Introduction to Buddhism' retreat run by the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition at Tushita Retreat Centre. The Venerable Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche taught with Alexander Berzin translating.
I also attended teachings given at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.
My next contact with the Dharma was with Samye Ling and Holy Isle where I have had the good fortune to receive teachings from many great teachers from 2005 until the present time. +
I started studying Buddhism with Lama Jampa (Head of the Dechen Community in the UK and student of Karma Thrinley Rinpoche). I then met with Khenpo Tsultrim Gyatso Rinpoche in 1999, with whom I have been studying since. +
2005 under the guidance of Lama Yeshe Rinpoche +
In 1995 I read 'Sparkles of awareness' by Sogyal Rinpoche. During the following 9 years this book became a companion and a haven of truth for me. There was no encounter with the Sangha in person untiI I met Lama Zangmo, Akong Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe in March 2004. I was deeply touched when I first heard Akong Rinpoche talking in Samye Dzong London. I then did a short meditation course with Lama Zangmo and soon decided to take refuge. +
Early 2002 from Books and with the Sangha of the Kagyu Samye Dzong, Dublin, Ireland. +
I started to seriously study the dharma in 1998 with Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche and Akong Rinpoche. +
1995, Rob Nairn +
I started to take interest in Buddhism when I was 20 years old in 2008. I read every Dharma book I could put my hands on.
Then I started taking some meditation courses, first in London (London Buddhist Centre), then in France where I explored different traditions (Zen and centres of the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions).
When I moved back to London in 2011, as I had before studied in organizations that did not seem 100% pure Dharma, I decided that I would search for an authentic lineage and tradition and firmly stick to it.
That's how I found about Kagyu Samye Ling and its branch centres in September 2011.
I quickly started to visit every week, going to meditation and tibetan classes. I also had regular personal interviews with Lama Zangmo, who helped me a great deal with my practice.
Then in December I visited Kagyu Samye Ling for a Chenrezig "Christmas Retreat". I felt this place to be really authentic and a serious place to study and practice Dharma.
So, this inspired me to take refuge in February 2012 with the late Akong Tulku Rinpoche.
From then on I continued to visit Samye Ling and the Samye Dzong Centres pretty much whenever I got time off work for courses and retreats. I have been relying to Lama Yeshe as my main teacher since I met him during summer 2012. +
2000/ self and 2003 Lama Yeshe Rinpoche +
2000 With Rob Nairn +
I started to study Buddhism with Guido Bastiaansen in 2006 in Kagyu Samye Dzong Brussels
This Introduction course was part of a 3 year Dharma course with Lama Tseundru and lama Jinpa from Kayu Samye Dzong Barcelona, Kenn and Kaitia Homes from Samye Ling in Scotland and Karma Shenpen from Kagyu Samye Dzong Brussels. +
November 1994
Ani Karin - Kopan Monastery - Nepal +
I began to study Buddhism with Lama Tsondro in 2009 when she visited South Africa on the suggestion of Akong Tulku Rinpoche. There is no Karma Kagyu lama in Southern Africa and no gompa but there are several Samye Dzongs and a retreat centre in rural NorthWest Province. That year Lama Tsondru taught "The Heart of Compassion" by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and presented the Eight Consciousnesses. Prior to this I had been reading books by the Dalai Lama and Jack Kornfield and had been very taken by Sogyal Rinpoches "Tibetan Book on Living and Dying" which prompted me to search for a Tibetan Buddhist Dharma teacher in South Africa. I took every opportunity to attend teachings when there were visiting teachers and learned from Rob Nairn and Alan Muller who is based in South Africa and has been formally accepted as a teacher for Southern Africa by Samye Ling. +
In 2003 I started with Buddhist courses in Kopan Monastery, Nepal. In addition I was following weekend courses at the Maitreya institute in Amsterdam and developed a general interest in Buddhism through reading books.
By the end of 2004 I gave up my job to engage full time in the dharma. I began to study Buddhism with Akong Rinpoche early 2005. At that time he accepted me as his student. Since then I have followed his guidance om my dharma path. He advised me to do 3 times a long retreat. The first opportunity that came along was the long retreat from 2010-2014 and I did join this one. Between 2005 and 2010 I had already this retreat in mind and Akong Rinpoche helped me in my preparation for this. Living in his monastery and working closely with him whilst he was alive, Akong Rinpoche closely monitored my development on the path and was a constant inspiration whom I could learn from. +
I first became interested in Buddhism in 1991, primarily Zen, at the time. I met the vajrayana through Lama Michael Conklin in Portland in late 1995 and began practicing under Kyabje Bokar Rinpoche in 1996. +
2003. I sat first with a Zen and Theravada groups before finding KCC in 2004. +
In 2008 I read Mingyur Rinpoche's book The Joy of Living which changed my life. I attended a three day seminar lead by him in the Spring of 2008 in New London Connecticut. I sat with a Zen Buddhist group in 2009-2010 in Pendleton Oregon based out of a practioners' home. I met Lama Michael in 2010. +
