| Introduction |
| Welcome to my web-site! I was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1962. I was brought up as a Christian but drawn to Buddhism in my pre-teen years. My first spiritual teachers were Venerable Lama Thubten Yeshe and Venerable Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, both of whom to this day, I regard with heart-felt devotion. In 1982, I attended the second Enlightened Experience Celebration in Dharamsala and met many wonderful friends and spiritual guides, including HH Dalai Lama, HE Ling Rinpoche, HE Zong Rinpoche, Venerable Geshe Ngawang Dhargye, and Venerable LamaThubten Choedak Rinpoche. I returned to India in 1985 with a party of New Zealanders (we call ourselves "kiwis") headed by Lama Choedak Rinpoche - who by then was living in New Zealand, and did a pilgrimage to Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Nalanda and Kushinagar. We also had the great fortune to meet with HH Sakya Trizin and HE Choegay Trichen Rinpoche on this visit. It was a most memorable time. Back in New Zealand, my spiritual relationship with my guru - Venerable Lama Samten - was being nurtured and because of our special bond I entered the Kagyu path. All the Buddhist schools of Tibet - Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Geluk - have produced great Enlightened teachers but each has its own particular style and characteristic lineage of transmission that differentiates itself from the others.The specialty of the Kagyu Lineage is Mahamudra. The Karma Kagyu lineage is headed by His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa, whose line of incarnation goes back centuries to the time of the first Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa, who was the foremost disciple of Je Gampopa - the heart-son of Milarepa. This line has continued unbroken up to the present time. His present incarnation is the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje. He currently lives in India. As you will see from from my web-site, I have deep passion for my spiritual teachers and the Kagyu lineage. I don't think my path is better than any one elses, but I do think it is best for me. Other than providing general information about Buddhism and the Kagyu Lineage on this site, I hope from time to time to share news, original photos and information that might be of some interest / blessing / inspiration . Please enjoy! John Herrett [email protected] |