Lama Dawa Biography:

 

Loppon Lama Dawa is a Karma Kagyü Lineage holder of Vajrayana Buddhism born in Kham, eastern Tibet. The Karma Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism traces its origin back to Vajradhara, the primordial Buddha. Its early founders include Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa Lotsawa, Milarepa, and Gampopa. Lama Dawa 's root guru is Vajradhara Tai Situpa Rinpoche. Tai Situpa Rinpoche is one of the highest ranking Lamas of the Karma Kagyü Lineages of tulkus (reincarnated Lamas) in the Kagyü school of Tibetan Buddhism and was instrumental in recognizing Ogyen Trinley Dorje (His Holiness The 17'th Karmapa).

 

As a youth, Lama Dawa lived and studied at the first Karma Kagyu master Kalu  Rinpoche's monastery. He then lived and studied Buddhadharma at Tai Situpa Rinpoche's monastery, Palpang Sherab Ling, for 25 years and completed his three-year retreat to earn his Honorific title "Lama". In 1998, Lama Dawa was asked to come to the Bodhisattva Institute, one of Kalu Rinpoche’s dharma centers, in Tucson, Arizona.  A few years later, Lama opened a meditation center called Chokor Ling on the outskirts of Tucson. Lama speaks fluently Tibetan, Chinese and English and has regularly disseminated Buddhadharma in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet as well as in Los Angeles county, Orange County, San Diego & San Jose, California. Everywhere he goes,  he gives  the Buddhadharma teachings  and Buddhist refuge — the ceremony by which one becomes a Buddhist — as well as the Bodhisattva Promise, the inner commitment to dedicate one’s life to benefit others, with the ultimate goal of the enlightenment of all beings.
 

Because of the good karma Lama have accumulated in the past, in this life he has been able to study to become a Guru Lama of the teachings of the Kagyu lineage, the protectors of beings. Likewise, He has been able to receive the blessings of the lineage of the great Karmapas and Tai Situpa. Lama Dawa is mastered to teach Buddhadharma & practice, perform many Buddha Initiations & Empowerments for the benefits of sentient beings, and mastered the art of Phowa (i.e. Transference of consciousness at the time of death.). Phowa is one of the Six Yogas of Naropa.  It is said to be the quickest, most direct way to be liberated from samsaric suffering. Also, it is taught that one does not return to the samsaric realms after having entered Amitabha's Pure Land called Dewachen, and that from that realm one can readily achieve enlightenment.
 

Currently, Lama Dawa resides in Orange County to spread dharma to the Vietnamese, Korean, Taiwanese & American communities. Lama Dawa is the Director of Nimbus Compassion Foundation, a non-profit corporation base in Orange County, California. Website: www.nimbuscompassion.com . The goals of this Center are to: 1/ Provide a place for taking refuge, and for developing and strengthening our aspiration to live a meaningful life along the Buddhist path  2/ Increase bodhicitta (compassion and wisdom) by advancing the study and practice of Buddhism and Buddhist teachings through lectures, seminars, prayers, prayer services and and educational classes given at temples, private homes, and public service.