On Wednesday, April 22nd, Rinpoche hosted the founding members and leaders of the Kagyu Teksum Choling Dharma Garden of the 3 Yanas/Vehicles, established by the 16th Karmapa. The Kagyu Teksum Choling monastery was a lovely temple in the redwoods of Santa Cruz serving the Dharma for about 50 years, with Lama Gangha as the first Lama, and Lama Dudjom as the last Lama. Unfortunately, the sponsor of the temple was unable to continue support, so the temple moved into a home of the Director, Zeinob Burnam, until she passed away last year. Their visit was delightful, full of many stories–this group facilitated the 16th Karmapa’s first visit to the U.S., and this group is why Rinpoche now has the 16th Karmapa’s teaching throne. These remarkable practitioners live close by in Santa Cruz and San Jose areas, and we hope to maintain a connection with them.
About Lama Gendun
Lama Gendun took the five precepts at age 17, and took full ordination vows at age 19 from Venerable Kyabje Dorje Chang Kalu Rinpoche. She holds both the Karma Kagyu lineage and the Shangpa Kagyu lineage. She went on her first long retreat (three years, three months, three days in the Kagyu tradition) at the age of 19, and did a second long retreat at age 25 or 26. After her second long retreat, Lama Gendun helped to build the Palpung Thubten Choling Monastery, whose name means “Garden of the Buddha’s Teachings,” located in Wappingers Falls, New York, 75 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1978 by Lama Norlha Rinpoche under the guidance of his root guru Kyabje Dorje Chang Kalu Rinpoche. The monastery began as a simple one-story factory building on seven acres of land overlooking the Hudson River, and Lama Gendun helped to build a new roof, fences for the retreat huts, and she was responsible for felling trees and providing all the firewood for heating. While at Palpung, she had the opportunity to meet and study with Japa Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche, who told the students his life story. She remembers vividly him sitting at the dining table, the room full of windows overlooking the Hudson River, and the serene power of this little monk. She stayed at Palpung for 18 years, but was called back to California when her father became ill–she helped to take care of both her parents until their deaths. She wore the robes up to 2007, but at some point it became more of a hindrance to stand out in daily life so she chooses to wear western clothing, but never stopped her monastic practices. She was involved for many years with the Kagyu Teksum Choling Santa Cruz monastery, founded by the 16th Karmapa. Lama Gendun is now connected with the Barom Kagyu Chodrak Choe Khorling Dharma Center in San Jose, founded by H.E. Sonam Tenzin Rinpoche.
