Keith Hale - Short Bio

Keith's meditative practice started when he was fifteen years old when he started working with Gung-fu, practices which he later discovered were "very similar to resting mind practices" of Buddhism. Several years later, from 1976 to 1984, he had the opportunity to study with Nam Singh from whom he learned the art of Tai Chi and Taoist meditation. He has maintained those practices and, at the encouragement of his teacher, taught weekly classes in Tai Chi and Taoist meditation since that time. In this regards, he is one of the most experienced Western teachers of Taoism and Tai Chi. In addition, he has studied and practiced Chi Gung under various teachers. In 1992, Keith joined Mahamudra Meditation Center, participating regularly in classes and retreats, including a retreat at Lake Big Bear with Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. Since that time, Keith has studied and practiced closely with Lama Thapkhay and in reliance upon the teachings of Thrangu Rinpoche. His area of focus is uniting Mahamudra and Tai Chi practice and the integration of practice into daily life. A former contractor, he now teaches "shop" at a residential treatment center in Northern California dedicated to transforming the lives of "at-risk" boys. Since 2001, Keith (Lama Kunzang) serves as Dharma Teacher for Mahamudra Meditation Center where he facilitates various study and practice programs.

Andrew Levine - Short Bio

A lecturer in English at San Francisco State University, Andrew began studying Buddhist meditation thirty years ago, practicing with both Zen and Theravadin vipassana teachers. Introduced to the nature of mind teachings in the early nineties, he has received instruction in Mahamudra and Dzogchen from several excellent lamas; his principal teacher is the Mahamudra master Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. Since then, he has participated in numerous Dharma retreats with emphasis on Mahamudra and Dzogchen practice. In recent years, Andrew has trained closely with Lama Thapkhay (Peter), as well as with Donna McLaughlin, another western teacher affiliated with Thrangu Rinpoche, acting as an assistant or co-teacher in ongoing classes and retreats. In 2006, Lama Thapkhay invited Andrew to formally join the faculty of Mahamudra Meditation Center. He currently serves as Dharma Teacher for Mahamudra Meditation Center and facilitates it's Nine Month Program.

Pat Schotka - Short Bio

Pat's introduction to Buddhism started in 1969 while traveling in Scotland. At the suggestion of a friend, she visited Samye Ling monastery and was impressed by "the openness and joy of the people" there. For many years Pat maintained an active interest in Buddhism. In the early 90's, she encountered Piercing the Autumn Sky at her local library, only to discover that the book's author lived nearby and had a small meditation group. Ever since that time, Pat has been practicing with the group and studying and practicing closely with Peter, in reliance upon the teachings of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche and Khenchen Könchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche. Over the years Pat has received teachings from and attended retreats with several leading Tibetan Buddhist teachers, including Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Chagud Tulku Rinpoche, Lama Tharchin and Khenchen Könchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche. In 2001, she traveled with Khenchen Könchog Gyaltsen to Tibet and Mount Kailash. Over the past fifteen years, the focus of her dharma studies and practice has been on Mahamudra and Dzogchen practice. During this entire time, she has been active professionally and yet managed to participate in most center retreats. Pat (Lama Chögyal) serves as Dharma Teacher for Mahamudra Meditation Center where she facilitates various study and practice programs.

Lama Thapkhay (Peter) - Short Bio

Lama Thapkhay (Peter) started Mahamudra Meditation Center under the guidance of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche and served as its director from 1990 to 2010. He is the author of Piercing the Autumn Sky (Lame Turtle Press, Petaluma; Italian edition "La naturale libertà della mente", Ubaldini Editore, Rome) and the manual A Meditation Guide for Mahamudra. In addition, he edited Mahamudra Teachings by Garchen Rinpoche and served as an editor of Essentials of Mahamudra by Thrangu Rinpoche. Peter started his studies of meditation and the Buddha Dharma in the early 70's with Tibetan Buddhist masters Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche, Geagen Khyentse, Togden Rinpoche and Sherab Gyaltsen Amipa. Thereafter, while working full-time for businesses and raising a family, he studied at the Nyingma Institute under Tarthang Tulku and at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center. In 1989, he met Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche at the first Moonbeams of Mahamudra retreat and became a dedicated student. Peter was one of the first Western Dharma teachers encouraged to teach mahamudra and, after a few years, was given the title of "lama" by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. Rinpoche also subsequently presented him with a lineage letter of gratitude for his practice of mahamudra. Today, his meditation manual is used in various Kagyu centers and by meditators around the world. Peter has B.S. and M.S. degrees in physics, with emphasis on neurophysics, and has been "paying those endless bills" by working in engineering and education. He has two daughters, both graduates of University of California, Berkeley. These days his availability for group teaching is limited. Whenever possible, he continues to try to help individual students establish a genuine understanding and practice of mahamudra, as a simple path of awareness and kindness. Tibetan Quote Gallery - Click Here

"Those who ignore karma and malign relative methods are like birds without wings;
they will certainly fall into the abyss of lower existences.
Therefore, avoid even the smallest bad action and practice even the smallest good action."
- Lama Shang, 12th Century (P.A. Roberts translation)

Return to www.mahamudracenter.org   MMC Main Page

Go to www.rinpoche.com   Main Menu - Index