Lama Lodu Rinpoche’s Presentation to His Eminence Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche
Monday, August 1st, 2022 5 PM-6:30 PMKagyu Droden Kunchab, 1892 Fell St., San Francisco
In 1976, Lama Lodu Rinpoche came to San Francisco, appointed by both His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa and His Eminence Kyabje Rangjung Kunkyab Kalu Rinpoche to lead the KDK Buddhist center. At that time, His Eminence Kyabje Rangjung Kunkyab, the previous Kalu Rinpoche, publically requested Rinpoche to maintain a public city center where Sangha can do daily pujas, to establish a remote, isolated place for Three Year Retreats, and erect stupas.
Since then, under Lama Lodu Rinpoche's direction, KDK has grown from the small rented house it had at the beginning. Now, KDK is in a fully-owned three story building with space for both Rinpoches, lamas and permanent residents. Every day, there is public Chenrezig puja from 6-7 AM and also at 8 PM to 9 PM at night. On Saturdays, there is Ngondro Preliminary Practice from 10:00 - 11:30 AM and on Sundays, there is Green Tara puja from 10:00 - 11:30 AM. Whether Rinpoche is present or not, this activity has never failed from the very beginning and continues non-stop because the residents are very mindful and dedicated to Dharma, and they report their activity to the KDK House Manager every month. In this way, the KDK City Center has been a resource for all of the San Francisco Bay Area for decades.
Rinpoche led one Three Year Retreat in Eugene, Oregon in the early 1980's, and then began work to establish a retreat compound for KDK. Working closely with the KDK Board of Directors, he obtained 180 acres in Mendocino County and worked for several years to transform this barren hillside parcel into a place suitable for both public retreats and Three Year Retreats. There was a Mongolian-style yurt that could hold up to 75 people, and many realized teachers taught publicly here, including His Holiness Chamgon Tai Situ Rinpoche, His Holiness Thrangu Rinpoche, His Eminence Khenpo Tsultrim Gyatso Rinpoche, and His Eminence Mingyur Rinpoche. Additionally, there are two compounds for monks and nuns. Rinpoche led two Three Year Retreats to completion on this land, one completing in 1999 and another in 2009.
While the second Mendocino retreat was going on, Rinpoche worked closely with Craig Janke, Bruce Jackson and many KDK devotees to construct eight marble stupas, all created exactly by tradition as the Buddha has taught. Many people contributed physically and materially to help make this come to fruition. Then, later, Rinpoche oversaw the construction of a 20' tall Enlightenment Stupa in the center of the other stupas. Now, there is a cement path around the stupas where people can walk to circumambulate and recite mantras, and everyone appreciates this physical manifestation of the Buddha's mind.
Now, KDK has grown to have satellite centers across the country, even as COVID-19 limits many activities. Now, it is time for Rinpoche to retire from overseeing KDK's day-to-day activities. He has worked for almost five decades and did his best to fulfill the command of the previous Kalu Rinpoche. Even if he did not complete everything perfectly, he did not avoid the subject. Now, the same guru is in a new incarnation, a new body, and Rinpoche would like to request that he continually sustain the activity of the previous Kalu Rinpoche. With humble respect to his guru, and from his heart, he sustains his samaya devotion continually and offers the Universal Mandala to Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche. Everyone is welcome to come to KDK and see Rinpoche's presentation, and we all request and hope His Eminence will give some teaching and comments afterwards. If you would like to stay for dinner afterwards, please let us know by leaving a message at (415) 752-5454 and we’ll have enough prepared for you.