Tashi Delek! My name is Bill Schwartz, "Karma Ozer Thaye," and this is my profile. I'm a Tibetan Buddhist, a Karma Kagyu, the Tsurphu Labrang encampment, a follower of Ogyen Trinley Dorje. I've been practicing the dharma since I was a kid in college, in the 70's. I started out, reading Shunryu Suzuki's, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind," sitting on the floor, and following my breath. I became a Tibetan Buddhist, in 1981, when I took refuge vows, with Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche. I received my pointing out, from the 16th Karmapa, at his Parinirvana. He died here. I was in the right place, at the right time. It isn't a credential. I have none. My major influence, as a dharma practitioner, is the Yogi, Scholar, Poet, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. I met him in 1985, on his first tour of the West. I've been blessed, over the years, when it comes to teachers. I'd list them, but this isn't a resume. If you're looking for "Ryder Japhy," my pen name, for his wild, off-beat take on life, and the dharma, you can find him on my blog, "The Essential Dharma Bum" here. I am not my pen name. It's just the name I write under here. I'm the Director of the Amanaskara Institute, but that's just to have a snappy answer, for when people ask me what I do for a living. I'm a son, a husband, a father, a grandfather, but most important, a follower of the Gyalwang Karmapa, the thread that holds it all together for me, as a dharma practitioner. I moderate, theReluctant Lama Experience and Allen Ginsberg's Beard, two message boards I started here. My claim to fame, for what it's worth. May we always practice dharma and benefit beings. Karmapa Chenno.
