Ryder Japhy - ProfilesArchive

About Me

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, the Reluctant 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.

My Interests

I'd like to meet:

Ogyen Trinley Dorje, 17th Karmapa, Tsurphu Labrang. My wife and I saw him in Seattle, the "Karmapa In America Tour," so he's on the top of my list. Instead of listing all the teachers I've met,and studied with, I'll name someone I'd like to meet, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, Pema Chodron's teacher. I'm reading his, "Light Comes Through," and loving it.

My Blog

"The greatest pith instructions" Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

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Posted by on Sun, 05 Apr 2009 23:57:00 GMT

Just make it clear where you are. Shunryu Suzuki

You're done with personal lack of self---You want phenomena's lack of it to? Milarepa

The function of watchfulness is that it will enable you not to be disturbed& Khenchen Thrangu

Nothing stirs my mind more than a midday stroll on a Spring-like day like today here in Chicago. We live a couple blocks from the Loyola University Lakeshore Campus. Im reminded of the yogi saying of...
Posted by on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:15:00 GMT

This is a yogi and happy at any time/ Someone like this is a yogi and always content Milarepa

This is a yogi and happy at any time/ Someone like this is a yogi and always content MilarepaThe wife is trying to hurry me along. We are off to visit her sister and brother-in-law for corn beef in ...
Posted by on Sun, 15 Mar 2009 10:22:00 GMT

KTGR'S Airport song

In the empty space of sky with no center or edgeOn the globe of this world without a bottom or topIn the company of beings empty forms like a dreamMind knows clarity and emptiness unspeakableThis cann...
Posted by on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:08:00 GMT

Awash In Time Without A Bucket

My wife at actingclass at loose ends Saturday afternoon reading here and there broodinglike the weather awash in time without a bucketKarmapa chenno
Posted by on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 13:44:00 GMT

"Guru Rinpoche Prayer"

A Prayer That Appearances be Liberated as the DeityThat Sounds be Liberated as MantraThat Thoughts be Liberated into Pure BeingAll these forms that appear to eyes that seeAll things on the outside and...
Posted by on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:38:00 GMT

Nine Sentences from Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

Nothing is more wonderful than to be part of your teachers inner circle, not being just another face in the crowd 1 Our main connection to the teacher, the lineage, and the path is the fact that we ...
Posted by on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:51:00 GMT

Six Sentences from Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

If only we could just be honest with ourselves, whether or not one has a teacher wouldnt be an issue, there would be nothing for a teacher to do for us to help us along on our path1 Human beings need...
Posted by on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:11:00 GMT