Early Teachers in Europe

Akong Rinpoché explained this in his own words during an audio interview with the author in 2013:

“I never had any income to return to India between 1963 and 1967. His Holiness’s instruction had been for me mainly to teach medicine so I was not thinking too much about the dharma side but once we were in Samye Ling and I was involved in its management and dharma, Trungpa Rinpoché and myself both realised we needed more teachers.

I made a couple of journeys to India to further the development of Kagyu Samye Ling. The Ven. Samten had been there in India a long time and he wanted very much to come, as did Ewam Phende Rinpoché and his brother Purtse. At that time (late 60s) there were not that many Tibetans wanting to go to Europe. These three had expressed an interest and I knew them from India although there was no very special connection. Samye Ling needed teachers and sangha and Phende and Phurtse seemed capable of fulfilling that.
Phende was a Sakyapa teacher—we were not particularly concerned with finding only Kagyu teachers but with finding very genuine teachers—Phende was very respected within the Sakyapa tradition. He stayed here altogether for almost a year. At that time, Phurtse, his brother, did not speak any English. He was a very good monk.

Phende also had barely any English. He met his future wife here in Britain and then he needed a income to support them. Samye Ling could not provide that and that was one reason for him first finding a job in hospital and then eventually settling in France and founding Ewam Phende Ling. Unfortunately, after being here for a little while he realised he did not really fit in and that his future was not here and so, in the end, he never taught that much.

The Ven. Samten stayed with Samye Ling until his death and served us well, ensuring the daily prayers. As for other Tibetan dharma teachers, Benchen Chime Rinpoché was invited by his friend, John Blofeld, before I moved to Samye Ling, but he wanted to work mostly with the London Buddhist Society. He visited Samye Ling on many occasions and sometimes taught there. Geshe Gyaltsen was sent by the Tibetan Government in Exile to help the Pestalozzi Childrens Village. We were from same area in Tibet so he only came here to visit me occasionally as a friend. Dhagpo Rinpoché was also a visitor. Elsewhere in Europe a very eminent Bonpo master, Samten Karmey, was brought over to Europe by David Snellgrove and Namkhai Norbu Rinpoché was brought to Italy as a scholar by Giussepi Tucci. Kagyu Samye Ling was the first active Tibetan Buddhist centre.”

To the above, we must, of course, add Sherab Palden Beru. A special section is dedicated to his special relationship with Akong Rinpoché here.

......continue to the next part of the story: Early Yet Defining Years in Samye Ling