Lama Choyin Rangdrol- African American Buddhist teacher, author, filmmaker
I received an email yesterday from Lama Rangdrol regarding various events that I will post here, but if you are unfamiliar with Rangdrol’s work, as I was, I thought I would include some additional information as well.
I am not Buddhist, but welcome comments from the Buddhist community about Lama Rangdrol and his work.
Lama Rangdrol is the only African-American teacher of Buddhism recognized by the First Conference of Tibetan Buddhist Centers in North and South America, convened by the Office of Tibet and attended by the Dalai Lama. He was honored as a special invited guest to the Dalai Lama‘s teachings on “World Peace Through Inner Peace” in Miami, Florida.
Before entering the dharma stream, Lama Rangdrol worked as a licensed psychiatric technician for thirty years and Drama Therapist in departments of psychiatry including UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital, USC University Hospital, and numerous acute psychiatric hospitals and outpatient clinics serving severely mentally ill, developmentally disabled, and homeless populations.
His academic studies also include the University of Redlands School of Music (B.A.), graduate work in Ethnic Theater at Sacramento State University, and certificates of study from the National Shakespeare Company (New York), and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (London).
(source: rainbowdharma.com)
He founded RainbowDharma in Oakland to serve the needs of people regardless of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, or religious belief. (source: sbmg.org)
Rangdrol currently resides in Hawaii.
There is a wealth of information on RainbowDharma to read through. It’s worth a site visit:
Good starting points for the RainbowDharma website:
Press Page (links to press coverage)-
http://www.rainbowdharma.com/Press.htm
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Full Bio–
http://www.rainbowdharma.com/FullBio.htm
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Blog Suite (listing of various blogs & latest posts)-
http://www.rainbowdharma.com/BlogSuite.htm
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I recently posted press releases from the Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF.org). Rangdrol’s 40 minute documentary entitled Festival Canceled Due To Heavy Rain, released in 2008, was one of the featured films. It recently was earned the Aloha Accolade Award for Excellence in Filmmaking at the Honolulu Film Festival held March 6-8, 2009. See the brief synopsis below:
Buddhist Teacher, Lama Rangdrol travels on pilgrimage to the Angkor monuments in Cambodia. He finds the ultimate connection between Buddhism and the African presence in early Asia inscribed throughout the 60 square miles of ancient ruins.
(source: YouTube- trailer description)
Check out the trailer for this film:
Earlier today, I ran into commentary on one of his blogs about Chris Brown and Rihanna. Since this has been a hot topic in the press, I thought you might want to check it out as well.
Meditations for Black Men blog– http://buddhismforafricanamericanblackmen.blogspot.com/
Post: CHRIS BROWN, WHAT WENT WRONG AND WHO SHARES RESPONSIBILITY?
Now for the info shared by email…
National: Lama Rangdrol, one of America’s few African American Buddhist
teachers, comments on meditation and stress reduction for the March issue of
ESSENCE, one of America’s premiere magazines for women. (pg. 110)
West Coast: The Hawaii International Film Festival presents Lama with the
Accolade Award for Excellence in Filmmaking, Honolulu.
East Coast: The film will be featured at the inaugural AWAKEN! International
Spiritual Film Festival, New Jersey. The audience will be led in a meditation
following the film. http://www.rainbowdharma.com/FilmProjects.htm
International: Lama plans to visit India later this year. Anyone interested in
sharing the journey should email us at: rainbowdharma@aol.com
Website: www.rainbowdharma.com
