Lama Lena
ABOUT
Lama Lena (Yeshe Kaytup) is a teacher of Direct Mind Perception meditation (Dzogchen & Mahamudra) and a lineage holder of several Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Her informal style is precise and direct and she is revered by students around the world for her exceptional ability to share profound teachings in a clear, poetic, and humorous way.
Beginning in 1972, Lama Lena spent three years studying with Lama Thubten Yeshe at his monastery in Nepal. She then spent seven years in retreat and practice in a small cave above Tso Pema under the tutelage of her root teacher, Ven. Wangdor Rimpoche. From then on, she continued to travel extensively with him as his main translator and assistant.
At the request of H.E. Zigar Choktrul Rinpoche and Ven.Wangdor Rimpoche - as well as many Western and Tibetan dharma students - Lama Lena has been traveling, teaching, and translating from the lineages she holds.
Having studied Chinese medicine, Lama Lena also maintained a medical practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. She currently splits her time between New Orleans and Tso Pema, where she teaches and provides medical assistance to the Tibetan refugee community, the local Indian villagers, and mountain tribespeople.
START HERE
General Dharma
Dzogchen
Recommended Reading
- When the Chocolate Runs Out by Lama Thubten Yeshe
- Magic and Mystery in Tibet by Alexandra David-Neel
- Introduction to Tantra by Lama Thubten Yeshe
- The Secret Oral Teachings in Tibetan Buddhist Sects by Alexandra David-Neel
BOOKS ON THE MAHASIDDHAS
- Buddha’s Lions: The Lives of the Eighty-Four Siddhas by James b. Robinson
- Masters of Enchantment: The Lives & Legends of the Mahasiddhas by Keith Dowman
- Lama Lena says: These two both give a good idea of the multiplicity of paths. They’re both based off of the same root text, with different translations and illustrations.
TRADITIONAL INTRODUCTION TEXTS
- Words of My Perfect Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche
- Lama Lena says: “This is a classic, a bit thick reading, but great basic text for the Traditional path. Gives you all the traditional analogies you’ll need to really understand when they are referred to in more advanced and practice-specific texts.”