Lama Yeshe’s Empowerment of Women:
From the Personal to the Universal
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In the early 1970’s the duo of Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche first appeared to people who were unfamiliar with Tibetan Buddhism. Judy Weitzner was one of those people – most all of them women -- who welcomed and championed them. Encountering the Lamas’ wisdom and power, their own wisdom and power were ignited. Inspired and encouraged by Lama Yeshe, Judy used her organizing skills to help the Lamas bring Buddha’s practical advice to others. One of those others was journalist Vicki Mackenzie. Galvanized by Lama Yeshe, Vicki helped broaden interest in Buddhadharma by writing books read worldwide.
Vicki and Judy will reflect on Lama Yeshe’s impact on their lives, and how his impact has continued beyond his lifetime and throughout the world. Stephen Butler will moderate their conversation.
About Vicki Mackenzie:
Vicki Mackenzie is a British national journalist and author who attended her first Buddhist meditation course in 1976 at Kopan Monastery, Nepal. Her ongoing study in Buddhism triggered many articles and six internationally best selling books including Cave in the Snow (Bloomsbury), featuring Tenzin Palmo; Reincarnation – the Boy Lama (Bloomsbury), featuring Lama Thubten Yeshe and Osel Hita Torres; and recently, The Revolutionary Life of Freda Bedi – British Feminist, Indian Nationalist, Buddhist Nun (Shambhala). Vicki is interested in introducing the profound richness and wisdom of the spiritual search to the general public at large.
About Judy Weitzner:
Lama Yeshe inspired and supported Judy to integrate Buddhist wisdom and compassion into her work as a social worker and educator. She began practicing what she dubbed, “stealth Buddhism,” embodying Buddhist principles into her work. She co-founded several schools and educational projects for children and then moved to Lifelong Learning for Older Adults and produced a community television program, “Senior Information Journal.” Among the “job assignments” Lama gave her: to help in the founding of Vajrapani Institute; to help create an organization to inform the world about the benefits of Tibetan culture and support its cultural preservation: International Society for Tibetan Reality and later, Bay Area Friends of Tibet. Judy helped Lama develop Universal Education by organizing two conferences on Universal Education and embodying the principles in curriculums for older adults. When Lama asked Judy “to do what you can to help old people” she worked in the Office of Aging; developed an information and referral system; helped set up fraud prevention; and internationally, she partnered with JFK University to develop a program for Japanese caregivers emphasizing compassion.
Vicki and Judy will reflect on Lama Yeshe’s impact on their lives, and how his impact has continued beyond his lifetime and throughout the world. Stephen Butler will moderate their conversation.
About Vicki Mackenzie:
Vicki Mackenzie is a British national journalist and author who attended her first Buddhist meditation course in 1976 at Kopan Monastery, Nepal. Her ongoing study in Buddhism triggered many articles and six internationally best selling books including Cave in the Snow (Bloomsbury), featuring Tenzin Palmo; Reincarnation – the Boy Lama (Bloomsbury), featuring Lama Thubten Yeshe and Osel Hita Torres; and recently, The Revolutionary Life of Freda Bedi – British Feminist, Indian Nationalist, Buddhist Nun (Shambhala). Vicki is interested in introducing the profound richness and wisdom of the spiritual search to the general public at large.
About Judy Weitzner:
Lama Yeshe inspired and supported Judy to integrate Buddhist wisdom and compassion into her work as a social worker and educator. She began practicing what she dubbed, “stealth Buddhism,” embodying Buddhist principles into her work. She co-founded several schools and educational projects for children and then moved to Lifelong Learning for Older Adults and produced a community television program, “Senior Information Journal.” Among the “job assignments” Lama gave her: to help in the founding of Vajrapani Institute; to help create an organization to inform the world about the benefits of Tibetan culture and support its cultural preservation: International Society for Tibetan Reality and later, Bay Area Friends of Tibet. Judy helped Lama develop Universal Education by organizing two conferences on Universal Education and embodying the principles in curriculums for older adults. When Lama asked Judy “to do what you can to help old people” she worked in the Office of Aging; developed an information and referral system; helped set up fraud prevention; and internationally, she partnered with JFK University to develop a program for Japanese caregivers emphasizing compassion.
WOMEN OF WISDOM
Celebrating the Living Legacy of Buddhist Women
Over the course of a year, Women of Wisdom: Celebrating the Living Legacy of Buddhist Women will highlight and celebrate women teachers and practitioners in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The programs in this series spotlight the history and impact of women in Buddhism and share the wisdom stewarded by a range of female lineage holders, teachers, scholars, monastics, and lay practitioners.
The series coincides with the 35th anniversary of the founding, by two women, of Tse Chen Ling Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies in San Francisco. Women of Wisdom: Celebrating the Living Legacy of Buddhist Women hopes to contribute to ongoing efforts to support global programming featuring female Buddhist teachers and scholars and presenting topics of importance to women on the Buddhist path.
Celebrating the Living Legacy of Buddhist Women
Over the course of a year, Women of Wisdom: Celebrating the Living Legacy of Buddhist Women will highlight and celebrate women teachers and practitioners in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The programs in this series spotlight the history and impact of women in Buddhism and share the wisdom stewarded by a range of female lineage holders, teachers, scholars, monastics, and lay practitioners.
The series coincides with the 35th anniversary of the founding, by two women, of Tse Chen Ling Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies in San Francisco. Women of Wisdom: Celebrating the Living Legacy of Buddhist Women hopes to contribute to ongoing efforts to support global programming featuring female Buddhist teachers and scholars and presenting topics of importance to women on the Buddhist path.
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