Lama Tsomo

Lama Tsomo is an American lama, author and teacher in the Namchak lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, guiding both beginner and experienced students. Namchak describes her as a teacher who brings the lineage's meditation practices to people at every stage of their path.

Born into a Midwestern Jewish household, she followed a path of spiritual inquiry and study that led to her ordination as one of the few American lamas in Tibetan Buddhism. She is fluent in Tibetan and teaches students in the U.S. and abroad. She is passionate about reaching young people and supporting those working for positive social change.

With her teacher, Tulku Sangak Rinpoche, she searched for a place where people could study Dharma, from foundational teachings through a full three-year retreat. Their search led them to land a few miles outside Hot Springs, Montana, and they knew at once, "This is it–this is the place." That land became the Namchak Retreat Ranch, where she is a co-founder. She also co-designed the Ancient Wisdom Engaged program with Aaron Stern of the Academy for the Love Of Learning.

Lama Tsomo holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology. She wrote the award-winning book Why Is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling? An Introduction and Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Practice, and co-wrote The Lotus & the Rose: A Conversation Between Tibetan Buddhism & Mystical Christianity. On the Namchak site she is quoted as saying, "Each one of us is both the part and the whole–the ocean and the wave."