Lama Surya Das
His web page: http://www.surya.org
Lama Surya Das is one of the foremost Western Buddhist meditation teachers and scholars, one of the main interpreters of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, and a leading spokesperson for the emerging American Buddhism. The Dalai Lama affectionately calls him “The Western Lama.”
Surya has spent over forty years studying Zen, vipassana, yoga, and Tibetan Buddhism with the great masters of Asia, including the Dalai Lama’s own teachers, and has twice completed the traditional three year meditation cloistered retreat at his teacher’s Tibetan monastery. He is an authorized lama and lineage holder in the Nyingmapa School of Tibetan Buddhism, and a close personal disciple of the leading grand lamas of that tradition. He is the founder of the Dzogchen Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and its branch centers around the country, including the retreat center Dzogchen Osel Ling outside Austin, Texas, where he conducts long training retreats and Advanced Dzogchen retreats. Over the years, Surya has brought many Tibetan lamas to this country to teach and start centers and retreats. As founder of the Western Buddhist Teachers Network with the Dalai Lama, he regularly helps organize its international Buddhist Teachers Conferences. He is also active in interfaith dialogue and charitable projects in the Third World. In recent years, Lama Surya has turned his efforts and focus towards youth and contemplative education initiatives, what he calls “True higher education and wisdom for life training.”
Lama Surya Das is a sought after speaker and lecturer, teaching and conducting meditation retreats and workshops around the world. He is a published author, translator, chant master (see Chants to Awaken the Buddhist Heart CD, with Stephen Halpern), and a regular blog contributor at The Huffington Post, as well as his ownAskTheLama.com blog site where he shares his thoughts and answers questions from the public each week.
Surya Das has been featured in numerous publications and major media, including ABC, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Boston Herald, New York Post, Long Island Newsday, Long Island Business Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, The Jewish Free Press, New Age Journal, Tricycle Magazine, Yoga Journal, The Oregonian, Science of Mind, and has been the subject of a seven minute magazine story on CNN. One segment of the ABC-TV sitcom Dharma & Greg was based on his life (“Leonard’s Return”). Surya has appeared on Politically Correct with Bill Maher, and twice on The Colbert Report.
Surya is the author of thirteen books: The Snow Lion’s Turquoise Mane: Wisdom Tales from Tibet (1992) *Awakening the Buddha Within: Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World (1998) *Awakening to the Sacred: Creating a Spiritual Life from Scratch (1999) *Awakening the Buddhist Heart: Integrating Love, Meaning and Connection into Every Part of Your Life (2000) Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be: Lessons on Change, Loss and Spiritual Transformation (2003) Natural Radiance: Dzogchen Pith Instructions (including seven guided meditations on CD) (2005) The Big Questions: How to Find Your Own Answers to Life’s Essential Mysteries (2007) Buddha Is as Buddha Does: The Ten Transformative Practices of Enlightened Living (2007) Words of Wisdom (2008) The Mind is Mightier than the Sword: Enlightening the Mind, Opening the Heart (2009) Natural Great Perfection: Dzogchen Teachings and Vajra Songs (with Nyoshul Khenpo) (2009)
Buddha Standard Time: Awakening to the Infinite Possibilities of Now (2011)
*The three books that comprise his best selling Awakening Trilogy; the first trilogy of American Buddhism.
Lama Surya Das resides in Concord, Massachusetts.
Quote.....
"Dear Friends and Countrymen, lend me your tears and fears: Let me carry them for you. I have not come to praise you But to awaken together. We who are about to live joyously salute you!"
My favorite ancient book of Jewish wisdom, The Talmud proclaims: "To save oneself is to save the world." Buddha himself is reported to have said, seated beneath the Bodhi Tree: "When I was enlightened all were enlightened, even the rocks and the trees." So endeavor to purify yourself, purify the world. Transform yourself, transform the world. Awaken and edify yourself, edify the world. Self-compassionate as well as loving-kind to others, wishing others well (WOW): if you want to change your worldview, clarify and refine your vision. "Now I don't just see different things, I see things differently."
This is my mission and true work in the world. From you and me to We. From head to heart. An infinite journey. Far-reaching, all-inclusive, and yet closer than we think. Don't overlook it!
I endeavor to do the very best I can. Won't you join me, joyful friends and floor-sitting listeners? It's now or never, as all ways. While spring is growing up all around--and within us too-let's seize the day, as they say, and pick up our meditation cushions and yoga mats, and walk.
Or go outside, at least. I shouldn't talk!
Lama Serious Das from my New New Dharma Talks May 2014
In The Media
Recently I was interviewed by CBS for their series on Modern Masters of Religion, featuring a profile on His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, which will air Sunday, June 29. I hope you will tune in!
Book Pick
The Uncommon Reader by Alan
Events and Retreats
May 30 - June 2 Rimay Monlam 2014 "A Tibetan Buddhist Peace Prayer Gathering" Location: The Garrison Institute, Garrison, NY Registration: www.rimaymonlam.org
***** July 12 - 19 Dzogchen Summer Retreat "The Natural Great Awakening" Location: The Garrison Institute, Garrison, NY Registration: www.dzogchen.org
BOOKS
SOUNDS TRUE AUDIO
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BUDDHA STANDARD TIME
Tricycle Magazine’s Book Club Selection for October 2011 “A wealth of inspiration and practical tips […]
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AWAKENING THE BUDDHIST HEART
Life is about relationship-the relationship we have with ourselves, with each other, with the world, […]
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AWAKENING THE BUDDHA WITHIN
Lama Surya Das, the most highly trained American lama in the Tibetan tradition, presents the […]
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AWAKENING TO THE SACRED
Lama Surya Das, author of the bestselling Awakening the Buddha Within, is the most highly […]
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THE MIND IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD
Lama Surya Das is one of the most well-regarded Buddhist teachers and scholars in America […]
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BUDDHA IS AS BUDDHA DOES
In 2006 His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who calls Lama Surya Das the American Lama, […]
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THE SNOW LION’S TURQUOISE MANE
This remarkable book brings together more than 150 authentic Buddhist teaching tales from the Hidden […]
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LETTING GO OF THE PERSON YOU USED TO BE
The beloved American Lama, a spiritual leader whose inimitable light and lively universal teaching style […]
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THE BIG QUESTIONS
The best-selling author of Awakening the Buddha Within addresses life’s most provocative and tantalizing questions […]
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WORDS OF WISDOM
Lama Surya Das expresses his depth of understanding and brilliant sense of humor that have […]
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NATURAL GREAT PERFECTION
Dzogchen is the consummate practice of Tibetan Buddhism. A pure awareness practice applicable to any […]
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