Beginning with His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, who described him as a "lama who has highly developed his inner practice," many Tibetan masters have said that we are blessed to have a teacher with the wisdom and qualities of Lama Lodu Rinpoche. His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche advised the students of KDK to take advantage of the opportunity to practice and learn from Lodu Rinpoche. Granting the request of KDK's students, His Eminence Thrangu Rinpoche composed a long-life prayer for him. Venerable Khenpo Tsultrim Rinpoche said students in San Francisco are fortunate to have a teacher of Lodu Rinpoche's stature available to them. The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche echoed this opinion during his visit to KDK in the spring of 2002.

Lama Lodu Rinpoche is a preeminent source for those wishing to learn and practice the Nyung Nes (the thousand arm Chenrezig fasting ritual). He has traveled throughout the world leading these retreats. He is also a master of Chöd, the ritual of cutting through ego-clinging by mentally offering one's body to all beings.

Though a master of these two techniques, Lama Lodu Rinpoche is also the source for transmission of all the methods, philosophy, and deity meditations of the Karma Kagyu and Shangpa Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. In an article "Instant Enlightenment," Lama Lodu Rinpoche advised, "Remember when taking the Vajrayana point of view: in every form you see all the deities, every sound you hear is mantra; but every form you see, every sound you hear is inherently nonexistent. It's emptiness. That is the way the Vajrayana is practiced."

Lama Lodu Rinpoche has bestowed the empowerments of Chenrezig, Green Tara, Guru Rinpoche, White Tara, Mahakala, White Mahakala, Saraswati, Vajrayogini, Hayagriva, Vajrasattva, Vajrakilaya, and many other deities when requested to do so. Many who have received empowerments from this teacher report a genuine sense of having met the mind of the deity and experienced a change in their consciousness and a lifting of mental veils and habitual tendencies. After each initiation, Lama Lodu Rinpoche gives an exhaustive explanation of the meditation practice. To those whose merit has led them to request and receive precious meditation techniques of the vajrayana, he reveals all he knows. Several years ago, Lama Lodu Rinpoche was scheduled to give a Green Tara empowerment at KDK in San Francisco. No one knew he was experiencing symptoms of what proved to be dangerously high blood sugar levels. His transmission of the deity's blessing of body, speech and mind were brilliant, vivid and stirring. Immediately after the empowerment, he entered UC San Francisco Medical Center for several days of treatment.

Lama Lodu Rinpoche teaches, ministers to and comforts those whom others may ignore, despise or shun. Without the slightest partiality, he treats all beings with equal compassion. Even those who, out of ignorance, anger or desire, commit actions which cause (themselves and others) suffering find refuge and the highest help from this teacher. This help may be wrathful or gentle but he gives what is required. Those who have any karmic connection with him he keeps close and protects. For others he extends the genuine wish that they may meditate on the four Noble Truths and eventually realize the true nature of mind.

Lama Lodu Rinpoche explained that the commitments and vows between student and teacher are indelible on both sides. Just as the Vajrayana vows require that students not break their commitment to their teacher: criticize, slander, ignore instructions, etc., so the teacher can never abandon the student who has sought teachings from him. The samaya with his students is inviolate.

In Tibet it is traditional to address as "Rinpoche," teachers whose power of wisdom and compassion creates great benefit for beings. The title simply means precious or precious one, and this practice, though originating in Tibet, is followed in the United States by Lama Lodu Rinpoche's students. When asked about the title, Rinpoche, he stated simply, "Whatever qualities or understanding I have don't change with how I am addressed. People may call me Lama, people may call me Rinpoche. Who I am and what I have to teach isn't enhanced or decreased by how people address me and is of no importance."

In 1982, Lama Lodu Rinpoche was blessed with a son, Yönten Kimshul. As a young boy, Yönten spent a great deal of time with His Eminence (the previous) Kalu Rinpoche. They ate together, talked together. Many people were in the habit of giving Rinpoche gifts, toys in some cases, and Kalu Rinpoche gave these toys to Yönten. At one point, Rinpoche lined them up and said to Yönten, who was very little at the time, "These will be your disciples." When Yönten met the new Kalu Rinpoche, he gave the toys back to him.

This article was written by two students who have studied with Lama Lodu Rinpoche since 1977. We speak from direct observation and experience and from the heart. May all beings find true enlightenment and may all beings be free of suffering and confusion.

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