A Visit from Lama Chodrak and Lama Gendun

After meditation on Saturday, May 10th, Khenpo Karten Rinpoche and the MDC sangha delighted in a special visit from two lamas: Lama Karma Chodrak (shown on right) and Lama Gendun (shown on the left). The sangha greeted the Lama Chodrak with katas (white ceremonial scarves to show respect), and both lamas settled in to share tea with Khenpo La and the sangha. We sat like a family at the foot of these teachers, and they presented Rinpoche and the sangha with many gifts and stories.

As we sat on the floor and couches near the Lamas, we got to hear their extraordinary stories. Lama Chodrak is from the same region of Tibet as Rinpoche, Nanching, specifically Korche Gompa. These two Dharma brothers, both of the Karma Kagyu lineage, both from Nanching-how extradordinary to watch their reunion in our small center! Lama Chodrak explained that he organizes an annual Kagyu Monlam (prayer festival) in Bodhgaya India each year at Losar (Tibetan new year), in which thousands of monks and nuns and thousands of lay people participate–10-12,000 people!. He said Bodhgaya is an especially blessed and holy place, that already four Buddhas have come enlightened there (Buddha Shakyamuni being the fourth of our fortunate aeon), and that 996 more will become enlightened there in the future–Bodhgaya is the place that 1000 Buddhas will reach enlightenment. He presented Rinpoche with many gifts marked with the Kaygu Monlam logo, a logo Lama Chodrak explained was designed by His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, and that is a symbol of protection. He said many people have the symbol on their cars in Bodhgaya, to keep them safe. The logo looks like a swirl heading out in two directions.

One of the gifts Lama Chodrak gave to Rinpoche and to all the students who were gathered were “black pills” and “red pills.” He explained that the black pill is especially rare, and can no longer be made. (We need to call Lama Chodrak to get the story again about how he came to have the black pill–we will update this when we have it right!) The black pills can be swallowed or soaked in water and the water drunk like tea “when you really need help, when you are facing some kind of obstacle or sickness.” Save the black pill for times of deep distress. The red pills can be used in the same way, but more liberally.

About Lama Chodrak

Lama Chodrak mentioned he is from Nanching, Tibet. His family left Tibet in 1959 when he was three years old and fled to India. He was able to travel back and forth to Tibet in the ensuing years and study at least twice with Japa Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche, after he was released from prison. He mentioned that he has organized the Kagyu Monlam Festival every year for the past 35 years of the 40-year old festival. It was originally established by his teacher, the Venerable Kyabje Dorje Chang Kalu Rinpoche and the Venerable Bokar Tulku Rinpoche, and when the Ven. Kalu Rinpoche passed away in 1989, Lama Chodrak stepped up to organize the event. At that time it was very small, maybe 300 monks and nuns. Today, the event draws tens of thousands. All the teachings are livestreamed each year, and the 2025 teachings are on the Kagyu Monlam Festival website, with translation into 12 language. Over the years, the Kagyu Monlam festival organizers have raised funds (fundraising managed by the Palpung Lungtok Choeling temple in San Jose), and bought land in Bodhgaya, built a huge pavillion, erected 8 stupas, and they are currently working on building housing quarters for the visiting monks and nuns. Lama Chodrak lives in Bodhgaya about six months out of the year because of this work. He did live in the United States for many years, establing a temple in Taos, NM and in Maui, HI. When he is not in Bodhgaya, he often travels to the other Kagyu Monlam festivals around the world. He is currently on his way to New York for the U.S. Kagyu Monlam coming up May the 16th, 2025.

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. She met Lama Chodrak during her first long retreat, when he taught the second half of that retreat. Lama Chodrak himself was just out of his own long retreat at that time. 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 at her work in daily life, so she choose to wear western clothing to blend, but never stopped her monastic practices. She was involved for many years with the KTC Santa Cruz monastery, founded by the 16th Karmapa, located in the hills and redwoods for about 50 years. The center closed last year, when the last student and lineage holder, a woman hosted the final few years from her home, passed away. Lama Gendun is now connected with the Barom Kagyu Chodrak Choe Khorling Dharma Center in San Jose, founded by H.E. Sonam Tenzin Rinpoche. It is a beautiful temple in the hills overlooking the city, a row of stupas lining the ridge. Lama Gendun is overseeing a large paver project in the backyard, and has in the past led the weekly Sunday long Green Tara practice when Ven. Sonam Rinpoche is away.

The End of the Story, and Future Connections

After visiting with the sangha, we took the two lamas to lunch at the Thai restaurant in Pacific Grove, then to Lover’s Point for a “walk on the beach.” What Rinpoche means when he says walk on the beach is walk to his special meditation spot for meditation–it was delightful! Lama Gendun had thought ahead and brought her bicycle, so she took a bike ride down the coast while the Lamas walked. After meditation on the beautiful, flower-laden cliffs, we walked back to Lover’s Point and headed back to MDC. Rinpoche presented both Lamas with gifts which included this picture of Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche, katas and his Dharma books. He also sent a package to Sonam Rinpoche, as Lama Chodrak was going there next to stay for a few days. Lama Gendun suggested that our sangha perhaps connect with Lama Sonam’s sangha, that there is a big festival in the summer that all are welcome to.

After they said their goodbyes, we realized that Lama Chodrak had left his monk’s bag! Lama Gendun’s phone was turned off (very wise for driving), and it was not until they were half-way to San Jose, with gridlocked traffic in both directions that they realized it had been left. No problem! A sangha member (ok, it’s me, Rachel!) and her husband (Casey!) drove up to the Barom Kagyu temple to deliver the bag and gifts of incense for the temple. Lama Chodrak warmly greeted us, despite it being 9pm and him having had only 2 hours sleep the night before! He introduced us to Venerable Sonam Rinpoche and Rinpoche’s brother Lama Tenzin, who had just arrived from Australia. We did prostrations in the beautiful temple, and even though late on a Saturday, workmen where still doing construction projects. Lama Sonam has a temple in Australia and many locations around the world, and is away for about 6 months out of each year. He said he has been meaning for many years to visit Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, but has a hard time finding the time.

Even though late at night, Lama Chodrak made tea for us, and showed us the beautiful view of San Jose from the hilltop. We looked out admiring it from our western minds, the beauty, the special good fortune of this temple–but Lama Chodrak looked out at it with his Bodhichitta mind. He said each of the glittering lights could be visualized as a lamp to dispel the darkness of all living beings, and started to sing the beautiful melody of the Kagyu Monlam Butterlamp prayer. Although we did not know the words, we knew the melody from our retreats here at MDC! We all sang together, and offered the lamps to dispel darkness.