Western Lama to Discuss Buddhism’s Popularity in U.S. Tuesday, November 7, 2006

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Lama Surya Das, once called the "Western Lama" by the Dalai Lama, will discuss "Buddhism in America" on Tuesday, November 7, at 6:00 p.m., in the Villard Room of the College Center. His talk will be followed by a question and answer session, and the event is free and open to the public.

Lama Surya Das

An authorized lama (priest and spiritual master teacher) in the Nyingmapa School of Tibetan Buddhism, Surya Das has spent thirty-five years studying Zen, vipassana, yoga, and Tibetan Buddhism. This includes time with the Dalai Lama's own teachers, and twice he completed the traditional three year meditation retreat at his teacher's Tibetan monastery. He is the founder of the Dzogchen Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, its branch centers in New York City, New Jersey, California, Portland, and Texas, and with the Dalai Lama, the Western Buddhist Teachers Network.

Surya Das has written several books, among them Buddha is as Buddha Does: The Ten Transformative Practices of Enlightened Living (2006), Natural Radiance (2005). Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be: Lessons on Change, Loss and Spiritual Transformation (2004), and his Awakening Trilogy, featuring Awakening the Buddhist Heart: Integrating Love, Meaning and Connection into Every Part of Your Life (2001), Awakening to the Sacred (1999), and Awakening the Buddha Within: Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World (1998). In 2000, he released Chants to Awaken the Buddhist Heart, a recording of chants with Stephen Halpern.

The lama is a contributing editor to Body and Soul magazine, and writes and comments frequently for many other media outlets, including ABC, MSNBC, CNN, NPR, Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Boston Herald, New York Post, Long Island Newsday, Long Island Business Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, The Jewish Free Press, New Age Journal, Tricycle Magazine, and Yoga Journal. Additionally, an episode of the ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg was based on his life ("Leonard's Return").

This Frederic C. Wood Lecture is sponsored by the Department of Religion. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations at Vassar should the Office of Campus Activities at (845) 437-5370.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential, liberal arts college founded in 1861.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations or information on accessibility should contact Campus Activities Office at (845) 437-5370. Without sufficient notice, appropriate space and/or assistance may not be available.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.

This article was posted on Monday, October 23rd, 2006.