The Kagyu lineage is firmly grounded in a tradition of oral transmission from teacher to student. It therefore seems particularly fitting that this book is based upon public talks given by Lama Lodo to his students over a period of several years.
"Quintessence of the Animate and Inanimate" serves as an excellent reference work for all students of the Dharma. It is the strength of this book that anyone, from curious beginner to Buddhist scholar, can benefit from Lama Lodo's knowledgeable and graduated presentation. "Quintessence of the Animate and the Inanimate," divided into three sections, entitled "Foundations," "Aspirational and Operational Bodhi Mind," and "Approach to Tantra," provides a thorough examination of all aspects of Buddhism.

Quintessence of the Animate and Inanimate, Venerable Lama Lodo, KDK Publications, 225 pages, $12.95

Lama Lodo was born in Sikkin in 1939. At the age of eight he entered a monastery to study the traditional subjects of the Karma Kagyu tradition: reading, writing, religious texts, singing and dancing. At fifteen he met Drupon Tenzin Rinpoche, who was the great meditation master of the The-Yak Monastery and a teacher of His Holiness the sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa. With his teacher's blessing, Lama Lodo eventually began the traditional three-year retreat, which is a requirement of becoming a lama. Unfortunately, both student and teacher became ill during this time. Tenzin Rinpoche directly contriubted to Lama Lodo's recovery, but died himself.

The lineage-holder of the Karma Kagyu tradition, H. H. Karmapa, intervened during this painful period in Lama Lodo's life. Since he was without a teacher and his study seriously interrupted. Lama Lodo was directed by His Holiness to seek a new teacher in the Very Venerable Kalu Rinpoche, who has been called "The great master of this age." Very soon Lama Lodo was able to pass his examinatioin and begin a new retreat. He contracted tuberculosis, but was able to complete his recovery and retreat by viewing the illness as the purification of bad karma.

Lama Lodo has spent the years since then giving insturciton in meditation, dharma and puja. In 1974, H. H. Karmapa and Kalu Rinpooche sent Lama Lodo to the West. He has tuaght in Belgium, Germany Holland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden, and since 1976 has been in residence as Senior Spiritual Teacher at the Kagyu Droden Kunchabe Center in San Francisco. He teaches extensively on the West Coast.