The Lawudo Lama : Stories of Reincarnation from the Mt. Everest Region

Contents: Preface. Introduction: geographical, social and cultural background of the Sherpa people. 1. Reincarnation and the tradition of reincarnate Lamas (Tulkus). 2. The sacred, hidden Khumbu Valley. 3. The people of Khumbu: their history and culture. 4. The religion of the Sherpas. I. The life story of the first Lawudo Lama, Kunzang Yeshe: 5. Who was Kunzang Yeshe? 6. Kunzang Yeshe learns to combine religious practice and worldly matters. 7. Kunzang Yeshe's teachers. 8. Kunzang Yeshe's hermitage. 9. The consecration of Tengboche monastery. 10. Life in Khumbu. 11. Lessons in impermanence. 12. The last years of the Lawudo Lama. 13. How the Lawudo Lama Kunzang Yeshe dissolved the illusory appearance of his form body into the expanse of reality. II. The reincarnation of the Lawudo Lama, Thubten Zopa Rinpoche: 14. Continuity. 15. My family and early childhood. 16. I am the Lawudo Lama. 17. Rolwaling. 18. Tibet. 19. I become a Gelug Monk. 20. Life in India. 21. The young Lamas home school. 22. Lama Thubten Yeshe. 23. Return to Nepal. 24. Back in Khumbu. 25. Building the Lawudo Gompa. 26. I become a teacher. 27. Mount Everest center for Buddhist studies. 28. Lawudo retreat center. 29. Times of change. 30. My mother. Epilogue. Long life prayer for the Lawudo Lama. A visual journey. Appendices. Notes. Bibliography. Indexes.

"In the land of Nepal's famous Sherpa guides, the Lawudo Lama, Kunzang Yeshe (1865-1946) was a beacon of inspiration due to his spiritual attainments. His life provides fascinating insights into the culture of the people who live in the shadow of the world's highest mountain. His reincarnation, Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, is now well known as a Buddhist teacher in the west and as the spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT)." (jacket)