Surya Das

Surya Das (born Jeffrey Miller in 1950) is an American lama in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.[1] He is a poet, chantmaster, spiritual activist, author of many popular works on Buddhism, meditation teacher and spokesperson for Buddhism in the West.[1] He has long been involved in charitable relief projects in the developing world and in interfaith dialogue.

Lama Surya Das
TitleLama Surya Das
Personal
Born
Jeffrey Miller

1950 (age 72–73)
New York City, United States
ReligionBuddhism
NationalityAmerican
SchoolNyingma
OccupationReligious educator
Websitesurya.org

Surya Das is a Dharma heir of Nyoshul Khenpo Rinpoche, a Nyingma master of the non-sectarian Rime movement, with whom he founded the Dzogchen Foundation and Center in 1991. He received Nyoshul Khenpo's authorization to teach in 1993.[2]

His name, which means "Servant of the Sun" in a combination of Sanskrit (sūrya) and Hindi (das, from the Sanskrit dāsa), was given to him in 1972 by the Hindu guru Neem Karoli Baba.[3] Surya Das is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[4]

Early life and education

Surya Das was born Jeffrey Miller and raised in Valley Stream, Long Island, New York.[4] He attended the State University of New York at Buffalo, graduating with honors in 1971, with a degree in creative education.[5]

Early studies

After his best friend's girlfriend, Allison Krause, was killed during the Kent State shootings,[1] Surya Das began pursuing spirituality.[1] From 1971 to 1976 he traveled in India. There he studied Hinduism with Neem Karoli Baba[6] as well as Vipassana with S. N. Goenka and Anagarika Munindra, of the Theravadin tradition.[7] Neem Karoli Baba gave him the name Surya Das in 1972.[8]

During his travels in India and Nepal, Surya Das studied with Tibetan Buddhist Lamas Thubten Yeshe,[9] Kalu Rinpoche,[10] The 16th Gyalwa Karmapa,[11] Tulku Urgyen,[12] Thrangu Rinpoche,[12] Dezhung Rinpoche,[12] Dilgo Khyentse,[13] and Kangyur Rinpoche.[12] In 1973 and 1974, he lived in Kyoto, Japan, where he taught English and studied Zen Buddhism[14] with Uchiyama Roshi.[15]

Monastery and retreat

In 1977, Surya Das helped establish Gyalwa Karmapa's Karma Triyana Dharmachakra monastery on a mountaintop overlooking Woodstock, New York.[16] He resided at the monastery from 1977 to 1980. He attended the first Nyingmapa retreat center in Dordogne, France in 1980. At the center he completed two Dzogchen three-and-a-half-year retreats under the guidance of Dudjom Rinpoche and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.[12]

Teaching career

Founding of the Dzogchen Foundation
Pictured is Lama Surya Das (left) and Nyoshul Khenpo Rinpoche (right)

In 1991 Surya Das returned from his two decades at Tibetan monasteries and retreats, and with Nyoshul Khenpo established the Dzogchen Foundation and Center to help further the spread of Tibetan Buddhism in the West.[17] He received Nyoshul Khenpo's authorization to teach in 1993.[2] The Foundation has brought many Tibetan lamas to teach and reside in the United States and continues to do so.

Appearances

Surya Das travels, teaches, and leads meditation retreats throughout the world. He is often called upon as a Buddhist spokesman by the media and has appeared on TV and radio. One episode of the sitcom Dharma and Greg, "Leonard's Return", was loosely based on his life and return to America.[1] He has appeared as a special guest on the Comedy Central television show The Colbert Report.[18]

Sexual misconduct allegations

In 2020, Surya Das told a reporter that he had slept with "probably one or two"[4] of his students. Later, in a statement released by a spokesperson, he said that he had had intimate relationships with "a few" of his former students before 2010.[4] New ethical guidelines were established as a result.[19]

These admissions came after five women, working through a lawyer, brought allegations of sexual misconduct by Surya Das to Dzogchen Foundation's board of directors in 2019. Three of them said Surya Das suggested that meditating while naked in his lap (based on the yab-yum image) would help their spiritual practice. Two others recounted sexual encounters with Surya Das, including one who said that he told her sleeping with him would complete her Buddhist training.[4]

Officials, teachers, and board members of the Dzogchen Center resigned following the allegations. Surya Das has disputed some details of these allegations.[4]

Bibliography

Books
  • Surya Das, Lama (1992). The Snow Lion's Turquoise Mane. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco. ISBN 0-06-250849-0.
  • Nyoshul Khenpo; Surya Das, Lama (1995). Natural Great Perfection (1st US ed.). United States: Snow Lion Publications. ISBN 1-55939-049-2.
  • Surya Das, Lama (1997). Awakening the Buddha Within: Eight Steps to Enlightenment: Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World. United States: Bantam. ISBN 0-5535-0537-8.
  • Surya Das, Lama (2000). Awakening to the Sacred: Creating a Personal Spiritual Life. United States: Harmony. ISBN 0-7679-0275-0.
  • Surya Das, Lama (2001). Awakening the Buddhist Heart: Integrating Love, Meaning and Connection into Every Part of Your Life. United States: Broadway Books. ISBN 0-7679-0277-7.
  • Surya Das, Lama (2003). Letting Go of the Person You Used To Be: Lessons on Change, Loss, and Spiritual Transformation (1st ed.). United States: Broadway Books. ISBN 0-7679-0873-2.
  • Surya Das, Lama (2005). Natural Radiance: Awakening to Your Great Perfection (Book & CD ed.). United States: Sounds True. ISBN 1-59179-283-5.
  • Surya Das, Lama (2007). The Big Questions: How to Find Your Own Answers to Life's Essential Mysteries. United States: Rodale Books. ISBN 978-1-59486-208-3.
  • Surya Das, Lama (2008a). Buddha Is as Buddha Does: The Ten Original Practices for Enlightened Living. United States: HarperOne. ISBN 978-0-06-085953-4.
  • Surya Das, Lama (2008b). Words of Wisdom. United States: Koa Books. ISBN 978-0-9773338-7-5.
  • Surya Das, Lama (2009). The Mind Is Mightier Than the Sword: Enlightening the Mind, Opening the Heart. United States: Doubleday Religion. ISBN 978-0-7679-1864-0.
  • Surya Das, Lama (2011). Buddha Standard Time: Awakening to the Infinite Possibilities of Now. United Kingdom: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-177456-0.
  • Surya Das, Lama (2015). Make Me One with Everything: Buddhist Meditations to Awaken from the Illusion of Separation. United States: Sounds True. ISBN 978-1622034123.

Articles

Audio/Visual

Notes
  1. Eisenberg (2004).
  2. Nyoshul Khenpo Rinpoche (1993).
  3. IYM staff writer (2006).
  4. Eaton (2020).
  5. Donovan (2007).
  6. Surya Das (1998), p. 41.
  7. Surya Das (2015), p. 49.
  8. Michaelson (2015).
  9. Surya Das (2009), p. 224.
  10. Surya Das (2009), p. 47.
  11. Surya Das (2014).
  12. Surya Das (2015), p. 52.
  13. Surya Das (2016).
  14. Richards (1999).
  15. Surya Das (1998), p. 253.
  16. Ingram, von Allmen & Nisker (1992).
  17. Lampman (2006).
  18. Colbert (2006).
  19. "Dzogchen Center - Code of Ethics Policy".

References

Further reading
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