Siddhartha Shakyamuni, originally known by this name and later called the Noble One, the Buddha, lived over 2,500 years ago, yet his teachings continue to resonate within our own realizations today. He offered a direct path to understanding how we create our own suffering, and a way to move from delusion to liberation, from what is not to what IS. I see the Buddha as the original pragmatic psychotherapist, dedicated to uncovering the Truth—what we know as the Dharma. This truth wasn’t invented or discovered solely by the Buddha; it reflects our original nature, the fully lived present moment in its raw, unadorned form.

My personal journey with Buddhism began in my teenage years when I read Suzuki Roshi’s Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. This book was a pivotal introduction to Buddha Nature—our original state of being. From there, I embarked on a 40-year journey into the Buddhadharma, immersing myself in the teachings and holding in deep reverence what the Buddha achieved through his passionate, persistent, and unwavering efforts to look directly into the source of our true nature.

In recent years, I’ve read several books about the Buddha’s life, particularly focusing on his life as a meditator. I am left in awe and often moved to tears by his relentless pursuit of the cessation of suffering. Each day, I walk alongside the Buddha in my heart, constantly reminded to stay close to the suchness of life—vivid, expansive, luminous, and loving. I aspire to embody these qualities for the benefit of all beings.

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, particularly within the Nyingma School, Longchenpa is revered as the Great Codifier of the Dzogchen teachings. During his life in the 1300s, he composed one of the most significant collections of texts, The Seven Treasuries, accompanied by auto-commentaries that flow as the unbroken stream of a mind steeped in Buddha Nature. Longchenpa was a prolific writer, an extraordinary teacher, and a deeply realized Dzogchen practitioner.

I have been incredibly fortunate to receive empowerment to practice within Longchenpa’s lineage and have spent several retreats focused on his Sadhana, a Maha-Guru practice that embodies the essence of all Dzogchen teachings. Reading and meditating on Longchenpa’s words feels like receiving nectar from his unbroken Buddha Mind—each word is a precious gem. To fully embody even a single sentence of his teachings would be enough to grasp the entire path. I am eternally grateful for this direct expression of who we truly ARE.

In 1997, after a decade of studying Vipassana, I unexpectedly “encountered” the sacred path of Vajrayana Buddhism through what seemed to be a series of synchronistic events. While working on my Ph.D., I was attending a class on Chan Buddhism and became friends with a classmate who, after hearing about my interest in Buddhism, suggested I join a weekly meditation on Red Tara with the Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche group in San Francisco. Without hesitation, I said a resounding “yes.”

A few days later, while walking through a park in Haight, San Francisco, I stumbled upon a flyer pinned to a tree. It invited students to a teaching on Dzogchen. In that instant, time seemed to stand still. I felt as though I was transported to a deeply familiar space, realizing an inexplicable connection to the Dzogchen path. Though I had never heard the word before, I intuitively knew its meaning. I rushed home and began researching Vajrayana Buddhism, specifically Dzogchen. That’s when I came across an image that changed my life: a picture of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, gazing directly at me and offering a flower. Overwhelmed with devotion, awe, and yearning, I sobbed uncontrollably, staying in an open-hearted state for hours. It felt as though I had reunited with a mother from a past life.

From that moment, I devoured everything related to Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Soon after, I met my first Dzogchen teacher, Lama Drimed Norbu. His teacher, Chagdud Rinpoche, and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche were close friends, confirming for me that I was entering the sublime field of Vajrayana. Although I’ve never met Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche in person, I feel a deep, unshakable connection with him. His images, writings, and even his appearances in my dreams have sustained this bond to this day. He represents the very essence of a Dharma practitioner—embodied loving wisdom, in perfect union with Buddha Nature. I remain forever in tears of love and gratitude.

At the beginning of 2022, a deeply auspicious and joyful reconnection unfolded during what seemed like a random event. I was invited to attend an online teaching by Lopon Barbara DuBois. Initially, I hesitated, but soon found myself captivated by her radiant Dharma wisdom and remarkable sense of humor. Up until that point, I had never heard of Lopon Barbara DuBois, but from the moment we met, I didn’t want to leave her luminous presence. During the two-hour teaching, I laughed and smiled like a child holding a secret, feeling as if I had always known her, as though we were never truly apart.

Since that retreat, we’ve formed a close student-teacher bond, grounded in the ultimate vow of a Bodhisattva—bodhichitta. I affectionately call her “Haha Lama” because she’s witty, sharp, and fiercely loving. With her, there are no masks, no games, and no dramas—just a direct pointing to our true nature, clear awareness, through the doorway of bodhichitta. She has written a precious book called Brave, Generous & Undefended: Heart Teachings on the 37 Bodhisattva Practices, which has been fully endorsed by her teacher, Garchen Rinpoche. In the introduction, Garchen Rinpoche beautifully expresses that his mind and her mind are inseparable.

To my beloved teacher, I am eternally grateful for your boundless love. You make me feel at ease and in safe hands. During a recent visit, as we said goodbye, she looked at me sweetly and said, “We have never met or parted; we have always been together.” In that moment, all illusions of time and space dissolved into the ever-present Now. That gift of remembrance is what I carry with me daily in my heart. Haha Lama, I can never repay your kindness.

After receiving Ati Yoga teachings from Lama Drimed Norbu, I became interested in Anu Yoga practices to support my meditation and deepen my awakening through the body. In 2010, I began a training program in Tsa Lung and Trul Khor with Alejandro Chaoul of Ligmincha International, which I completed in 2015. Over those five years, I attended annual retreats with Alejandro, studying under his guidance to further deepen my practice. This journey has been profoundly transformational and liberating at the most subtle levels.

After completing my training, Alejandro invited me to join the teacher training program, which I completed in 2022. Alejandro embodies the essence of a devoted practitioner, which shines through in his loving presence and unwavering support of his students. He lives his practice, and I feel honored to be one of his students. I hope to continue this tradition by sharing the love and wisdom he has imparted to me.

Alejandro is a senior student in the Bon tradition of Buddhism, studying under Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, who has made the Buddhadharma accessible to all. Through my time with Alejandro, I have experienced his radiant kindness and his deep commitment to the path through direct practice. He leads from his own experience, and I aspire to offer teachings in the same way.

In 1998, my life was forever changed when I met Lama Drimed of Chagdud Gompa. Officially recognized in 1995, Lama Drimed was given permission to serve as the head Lama of Rigdzin Ling in California, the seat of Chagdud Rinpoche’s legacy. He was also recognized during his ordination as an emanation of one of the 25 students of Padmasambhava. After our meeting, Lama Drimed granted me permission to attend the annual Ngondro retreat in 1999, which he led with the profound Dzogchen view woven into the teachings.

After several years of Ngondro practice, I was invited to participate in multiple six-week Dzogchen retreats, as well as retreats focused on the practices of Longchenpa. Lama Drimed embodies the Dharma in every fiber of his being. As of 2022, he is currently in his second three-year retreat, deepening his practice and continuing to teach his students how to abide in the natural state of Buddha nature.

From Lama Drimed, I received the full cycle of Dzogchen teachings, which I treasure daily, always remembering the blessings of all Buddhas and bodhisattvas for their unwavering dedication in preserving the unbroken lineage of the Buddhadharma. Lama Drimed, without speaking, conveyed the inexpressible truth, and in his presence, we all experienced our true nature. He bestowed upon us the most precious jewel—our own true face, a jewel that can never be stained.