Vessantara

Akong Tulku Rinpoche (1939-2013) was the co-founder of Samye Ling Tibetan Centre in Scotland, and was  responsible for establishing both Dharma centres and humanitarian projects. He was the first Buddhist teacher I ever met, when I turned up (in a terrible state) at Samye Ling in 1971. I told him I had come to meditate seriously, and he took me at my word, setting me a programme that soon had me sitting 12 hours a day. Although they were very tough, those weeks of intensive practice were a lifesaver for me, and I shall always be grateful for his help at that time, and in my early years of practice.