| Meditation Master of the Karma Raja Maha Vihar, Sonam Guermei, and myself, 1985, Swoyambu, Nepal |
| My English students, Pokhara, Nepal---Debu Kagyu Ling monastery 1982 (app) |
| HH Dobsong Rinboche, makes offering to newly recognized Turlku, Karma Raja Maha Vihar--1980s |
| On the lake with one of my students named "tulku." |
| Kamala with my first daughter Rachel, in the Himalayas 1985. We did an elaborate puja for Rachel at the monastery I stayed 12 years earlier. The candles and prasad are set up on an image of the Buddha's hand; in the center is an efigy of Rachel. All of her obstructions are transfered to the efigy and later at the conclusion of prayers the efigy is broken up and thrown on the hillside. |
| HH Chokling Rionpoche, left and his brother, HH Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche at the Karma Raja Maha Vihar, Swoyambu, 1980s. Link to their website below: Chokling link |
| Visiting with HH Trushik Rinboche at his Himalayan monastery Tupten Cholling in the 1980s. HH Trulshik Rinpoche was the first Lama I offered a Katha to, in 1969. We remain friends to this day. I am here visiting on my birthday. Below bottom: Trushik Rinpoche attended by Ngawang Norbu descend the stairs of the shrine room after prayers. |
| This photo of HH Digo Khentse Rinpoche walking with HH Trushick Rinpoche is actually a photo of a photo I found interesting as is the photo below of HH Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche |
| Here is a picture of my teacher, Tripitika Master Hsuan Hua, and Mr Beckstoffer signing papers during our purchase of what was to become the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. also pictured is myself in black cap, bhikshu Heng Kuan, bikshunis Heng Yin and Heng Chih.. |
| This is another photo of a photo. HH 16th Karmapa is shown here surrounded by some of the great lamas of the Kagyupa tradition, of which HH Karmapa presides. |
| Right: a very young HH Trushik Rinpoche |
| The above shots are both of the great master HH Kalu Rinpoche. The shot on the right was shot of the new incarnation, in Santa Monica, Calif. around 1995 (app???) after he had given a refuge ceremony. I had brought my two daughters to take refuge. |
| Above: What you eating; looks pretty good!!!---My daughter Rachel and friend. Left : Mudra comforts Rachel on a hot monsoon afternoon |
| Above and left: My how they grow up!! In both photos Mudra on right and Rachel on left. Recent shot taken this year (2006) during Mudra's high school graduation ceremony. |
| Above: the house I built in Nepal near the Swoyambu Stupa.--Below: Work in progress. |
| The Forestry Minister and I did the first nepalese translation of a work by Marie Montessori; "What You Should know About Your Child." |
| Here I am with Samuela and some of her students whom I taught English. |
| HH Trulshik Rinpoche in Swoyambu. "Mad Monk" (Ngawang Tenzin) a frequent assistant to Rinpoche is on his left. |
| Early days of marriage to Kamala after ten years as a fully ordained monk and about five years as a wandering hermit. We have three lovely children together and regular contact although no longer married. |
| My sister Laura and I in Las Vegas a few years ago. |
| Lama Phuntzo with the young monks of the Karma Leksha Ling. The monk center with most yellow displayed is Gyalpo Rinpoche, the incarnation of a great yogi from Manang Nepal. |
| My two daughter as they appeared daily ready for school. |
| My Teacher Tripitika Master Hsuan Hua (April 16, 1918 – June 7, 1995) with whom I took the bhikshu precepts in 1971 and remained with until 1982 when I returned to Nepal. The Elder Master Hsu Yun saw that the Master was an outstanding individual in Buddhism and transmitted the Dharma-lineage to him, giving him the Dharma name Hsuan Hua and making him the Ninth Patriarch of the Wei Yang Sect, the forty-fifth generation since the First Patriarch Mahakashyapa. |
| A chance encounter with HH Chokling Rinpoche at the Kathmandu airport in 2005. Pictured here with my daughter Rachel. We hadn't seen each other for about 12 years. We later spent some time together in subsequent days doing puja in Pharping and wonderful meals in Kathmandu. |
| We often had monks come and do prayers for our children. Here are Kuwang and Karti, from the karma Raja Mahavihar, in Swoyambu,, blessing Rachel. |
| Some morte shots of my students from Pokhara during my early days in Nepal. Above we are out of the monastery for a weekly outting---something we all looked very much forward to, especially the young monks who were under extreame disipline all week. To the right is the weekly bath. |
| It was a wonderful six months teaching these monks. Some of them remaine friends to this day. |
| Above: Annapurna is slightly visible top left. |
| Right: Setting up for a fire puja in our home in Kathmandu. |
This monk's name is Doun Dou. I and my daughters
often had tea in his room at the Karma Raja Maha
Vihar/ He would hold my babies in his lap and twirl his
mani wheel and recite mantras blessing them. He lived
a wonderful life past 100.
often had tea in his room at the Karma Raja Maha
Vihar/ He would hold my babies in his lap and twirl his
mani wheel and recite mantras blessing them. He lived
a wonderful life past 100.
Late Lama Sonam Guermei, meditation
master Karma Raja Maha Vihar, during
Mahakala Puja, New Year.
master Karma Raja Maha Vihar, during
Mahakala Puja, New Year.
Monks of the Karma Raja Maha Vihar. Once I stayed as a monk in this
monastery and later was married in it.
monastery and later was married in it.
This is a shot of the great Nyingmapa master HH Kusum Lingpa blessing my
daughter at a ceremopny in Los Angeles; Right a fish release ceremony in
Marina Del Rey with HH Kusum Lingpa.
daughter at a ceremopny in Los Angeles; Right a fish release ceremony in
Marina Del Rey with HH Kusum Lingpa.
In Tibet, bounced along this road from Lhasa to Tsurphu for many hours to see HH 17th
Karmapa. Below, the members of our group visiting with His Holiness. I felt very blessed to
be in such good company. two in our group were very close disciples of HH the 16th
Karmapa and this was the first time to visit the new incarnation.
Karmapa. Below, the members of our group visiting with His Holiness. I felt very blessed to
be in such good company. two in our group were very close disciples of HH the 16th
Karmapa and this was the first time to visit the new incarnation.
My friend Gyaltsen and I in the Tsurphu monastery. Below: HH Karmapa and
Gyaltsen
Gyaltsen
Above is the incarnation of Dobsong Rinboche of whom Gyaltsen
(pictured here) was a disciple. HH Karmapa had recognized the
incarnation a few days before our arrival.
(pictured here) was a disciple. HH Karmapa had recognized the
incarnation a few days before our arrival.
Tsurphu monastery is tucked into one of many
beautiful Tibetan valleys. We enjoyed a picnic in the
valley---right.
beautiful Tibetan valleys. We enjoyed a picnic in the
valley---right.
| ABOVE One of my best friends, Himalayan Tiger, Topkhey Lama and I, Nepal, 1969 We found each other again by chance (after over 30 years during HH Trulshik Rinpoche's instalation of the Maratika Lama) see "drifting section." |
Thapkey Lama and Kailash
Right is some family footage of my son Kailash's
first attempt at mantra recitation. He is having
quite a difficult time of it, as his body language
reveals. Footage was shot at the Self Realization
Fellowship, Los Angeles. Coaching him is
Thapkey Lama . Enjoy!
UPDATE:
Our friend Thapkey Lama passed away in
Nepal on June 16, 2006 after a long battle
with cancer. Our thoughts, love, and
prayers for a favorable rebirth are with him.
first attempt at mantra recitation. He is having
quite a difficult time of it, as his body language
reveals. Footage was shot at the Self Realization
Fellowship, Los Angeles. Coaching him is
Thapkey Lama . Enjoy!
UPDATE:
Our friend Thapkey Lama passed away in
Nepal on June 16, 2006 after a long battle
with cancer. Our thoughts, love, and
prayers for a favorable rebirth are with him.
| My daughter Rachel and I depating Oahu for Kathmandu |
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Receiving darshan from HH Kusum Lingpa; my daughter, rachel, barely visible, on right.
Here I am with Kempo Tenzin Namgyal, "Patak" who was my English student
when he was small and I lived in his monastery in Pokara, Nepal (see photo
toward top of page). He is now HH 17th Karmapa's principal attendant. We
reunited for the first time in twenty-two years, in Seattle, where he was
accompanying HH Karmapa on a American tour. My daughters Rachel and
Mudra are pictured with us.
when he was small and I lived in his monastery in Pokara, Nepal (see photo
toward top of page). He is now HH 17th Karmapa's principal attendant. We
reunited for the first time in twenty-two years, in Seattle, where he was
accompanying HH Karmapa on a American tour. My daughters Rachel and
Mudra are pictured with us.
Master Hsu Yun
At dinner with Lama Gyaltsen, who was my good friend and
neighbor for my ten year stay in Nepal, on my left and HH
Chokling Rinpoche and his son HH Phakchok Rinpoche
neighbor for my ten year stay in Nepal, on my left and HH
Chokling Rinpoche and his son HH Phakchok Rinpoche
My daughter Rachel, with HH Chokling Rinpoche and Lama
Gyaltsen, in Kathmandu in 2005
Gyaltsen, in Kathmandu in 2005