He was about forty at the time, small in stature, with the walk and presence of a samurai warrior. There was something very direct and yet very kind in everything he said or did. Having shown him into his room, I sat down in the semi-darkness of the gathering dusk to listen to him talking and felt an immediate sense of rightness and connection. Continue reading Meeting Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche
The following is a fascinating excerpt from Lama Shenpen’s life story book ‘Keeping the Dalai Lama Waiting & Other Stories’ about Rigdzin Shikpo’s three year retreat, how he received the name Rigdzin Shikpo, as well as an explanation of the term ‘guru yoga’. Shared in memory of Lama Rigdzin Shikpo Rinpoche who recently passed away. Continue reading Rigdzin Shikpo’s 3 Year Retreat – A new excerpt from Keeping the Dalai Lama Waiting & Other Stories
“One day Karma Thinley Rinpoche asked, ‘What make your mind relax?’ I told him, ‘Swimming in the sea – throwing myself into the big waves without a care in the world like I did as a child.’ With wide-eyed amazement he told me that would frighten him…” Continue reading What makes your mind relax? Learning from Karma Thinley Rinpoche – A new excerpt from Keeping the Dalai Lama Waiting & Other Stories
My friend Mike Lear died 18th March aged 84. He was the friend who supported me all the time I was in India – the one I left when I became a nun [as described in Lama Shenpen’s life story book ‘Keeping the Dalai Lama Waiting – An English Woman’s Journey to Becoming a Buddhist Lama’ – see excerpt below.] He was such an unselfish and generous man, I kept in touch with him by letter and phone over the years and spoke to him just a few months ago. Continue reading A Message from Lama Shenpen to Students & Readers of ‘Keeping the Dalai Lama Waiting’
Having the title of lama is not without its problems. The very title itself invites projections of various kinds. However, to say one is not a lama seems to imply that one is not qualified to teach. There are problems whether one uses the title or not. One reason for this is that the term is used in such a general way that it is unclear what it implies even among Tibetans, let alone among Westerners… Continue reading How did Lama Shenpen become a Lama?
Gendun Rinpoche did seem to be able to work miracles. The summer of 1976 brought a huge drought across Europe which went on for many months. Christian bishops and priests were praying for rain and still it didn’t rain. Gendun Rinpoche started to pray for rain too. One of his faithful French disciples who lived in a makeshift shelter in a field on a nearby hill was convinced that Gendun Rinpoche was about to conjure up a storm. Continue reading Gendun Rinpoche & Supernormal Powers
A short 2 minute video of Lama Shenpen on ‘intentionality’ and the power that comes from setting an intention and putting our heart into it:
“If your purpose and the meaning of your life is seeking the Truth about the fundamental nature of our experience and you follow that through, I can tell you it gets very, very interesting!” Continue reading Short Video on: ‘Intentionality’ – the power of putting our heart into something
In the video below Lama Shenpen introduces the story of Karma Thinley Rinpoche and the Snake, and describes how she likes to leave some of the stories in her book open ended, in order to ask the reader, what would you have done? What spiritual teaching would you have received if you were in Lama’s place? What have you taken away from the story? Read the full excerpt below: Continue reading Excerpt from Keeping the Dalai Lama Waiting & Other Stories – Karma Thinley Rinpoche & the Snake – what would you have done?
The following is a series of excerpt from Lama Shenpen’s life story book, published in May 2020: Keeping the Dalai Lama Waiting & Other Stories – An English Woman’s Journey to Becoming a Buddhist Lama. In the passages below we learn about the extraordinary circumstances that led Lama Shenpen to be based in North Wales – due to a divination and prophecy by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Continue reading How Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche Directed Lama Shenpen to North-west Wales
An excerpt from Lama Shenpen’s life story book ‘Keeping The Dalai Lama Waiting & Other Stories: An English Woman’s Journey to Becoming a Buddhist Lama’ about being ordained by the 16th Karmapa and her close connection with him. Continue reading Story & Video: Being ordained by the 16th Karmapa
