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Can you share more about your first experience in How important are spiritual teachers in Tibetan
Bodhgaya? Buddhism?

My first visit to Bodhgaya was a catapult; I perused an The teacher is everything. The teacher is the living
integrated path of Buddhist studies along with clinical embodiment of the possibility of enlightenment in our
psychology, and met a succession of teachers that everyday life because the teacher is the living expression
guided me along the way. On the Antioch Program I of the dharma teachings. Otherwise, the principles are
was fortunate to meet very good teachers. I was taught just words in a book. The teacher is the living source of
mindfulness and loving-kindness by the late Sri Lankan refuge. Otherwise, there are only the worldly refuges of
master Godwin Samararatna, and I took refuge with fame and fortune which are temporary and unreliable. I
the Tibetan master Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche under the tell my students who are ambivalent or skeptical about
Bodhi Tree. In a symbolic way that first trip to India spiritual teachers that though one doesn’t necessarily
was like coming home to a place where I had finally need a guide, but it undoubtedly helps tremendously, in
found meaning and purpose. In the years to come I both mundane and spiritual pursuits. Of course, we can
would return nine times, including as a teacher bringing learn nearly everything on our own from a book or from
my own students on pilgrimage to experience the life- Youtube, but in order to learn correctly and efficiently,
changing catalyst I had twenty years prior. in a completely integrated or embodied way, having a
qualified guide teacher is indeed precious and beneficial.
I understand you study and practice mainly in the As Dharma practice is about mastering your own mind,
Gelug tradition. How did this come about? you need to find someone who has already developed

such good qualities and is capable of sharing the process
In New York while I was studying for my Master’s of mind training with you.
degree, I met American Buddhist scholar Robert
Thurman and Buddhist psychiatrist Joseph Loizzo and Many of the great lamas have followed a tried-and-
began what would become a very close mentorship true path, and have made quantum leaps in their
with them that has lasted over 20 years. Both of my spiritual development. They have also become
mentors were direct students of HH The Dalai Lama, exceptional good hearted and wise human beings as a
and both were preserving the Nalanda curriculum of result of their training. Therefore, if we can develop a
lam rim, lojong, and tantra. Thus, Gelugpa tradition strong bond with them, follow their advice, and more
became my lineage. importantly internalize their way of being free, then
we can also experience their blessings and be inspired
In 2006 I participated in a one-month Lam Rim retreat in a positive way.
at Kopan monastery, Nepal, where I took refuge and
Bodhisattva vows with Lama Zopa Rinpoche. At that We learnt much from a spiritual master like Lama
retreat I also met my current master, Geshe Tenzin Zopa Rinpoche when he was alive – what lessons did
Zopa. By 2008 I had taken tantric initiation with the he leave us when he passed away?
late Gelek Rinpoche.
The first obvious lesson is the reality of impermanence.
My lineage is Tibetan but looking back it was never a We too shall die. The teachers’ death shows us that
conscious choice. I was only following my heart along nothing lasts. Life is over in the blink of an eye. It
the bread crumb trail, and something else was leading happens to everyone. We will lose everything in this
me. This is why I think I had a past life connection life, including all our possessions, friends, teachers, and
with Dharma. It is very hard to understand how else I even ourselves. But we don’t know when it will happen.
would have made it to Bodhgaya so early in life, why it We can change plans at the last minute to go up to
made such an incredible impression, how I would be so Rachen Nunnery in Tsum as Lama Zopa did, and before
fortunate to find and work so closely with such qualified we know it, he’s passed away.
mentors, and how I would create a meaningful vocation
to share Dharma with others. We can take the passing of a great lama as an opportunity