Abstract

This is a joint talk with the town Cambridge Buddhist Society and is free and open to all.

Venerable Lama Karma Samten is a monk in the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in Tibet and escaped to India when he was ten, losing all his family on the journey. After studying in India, at the age of 21, he took full ordination from Kalu Rinpoche.

He completed two successive traditional three year, three month and three day retreats and on completion of the second retreat, he then spent another three years in solitary retreat. His teachers over these 10 years were H.E. Beru Khyentse Rinpoche and Ven Kalu Rinpoche.

In 1980, at the request of HH 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, Lama Samten went to New Zealand and spent 23 years there developing the Buddha Dharma. He retired in 2004 and now teaches internationally, guiding his many students in their practice and taking them on pilgrimages to holy Buddhist places around the world. He is the author of several books including “Living with Death and Dying” and has recorded a series of chanting CDs called “The Sounds of Liberation”. He is known for his earthy, pragmatic manner and sense of humour, making the teachings accessible to all.  And because of his 23 years in New Zealand, his English is very good. www.kagyu.org/kagyulineage/teachers/tea28.php