Lama Lekshe brings three decades of practice and a distinctive approach to sharing the profound wisdom of the Karma and Shangpa Kagyu lineages. She has written:

I grew up in rural Oregon and was born into working-class poverty, the only child of parents who were 16 and 21. Through the generosity of others, along with effort and determination, I eventually completed a college education.

I encountered Buddhism in Tibet decades ago when I participated in the one of the early mountain bike expeditions from Lhasa to Kathmandu. Later, I lived in Nepal, hiking and painting. Since 1994 I have visited India and Nepal dozens of times for extended dharma training.

I met my Dharma teacher, Lama Michael, in 1994 and have practiced under his guidance since then. During those decades, I served as a member of his center’s Board of Directors, as President, and eventually as a dharma teacher under his authorization.

After an early retirement, in 2018 I completed a traditional cloistered three-year Shangpa Kagyu retreat under the guidance of Lama Michael and Lama Tara Goforth. Following retreat, I remained close to home for a year before entering a year-long full-time service and teaching residency at Great Vow Zen Monastery.

I helped co-found Dekeling and have been its resident teacher since the beginning.  I have worked in some form of education most of my adult life. Before dedicating myself fully to dharma teaching, I served as a university educator and international consultant to post-secondary learning organizations, and so bring curriculum design skills, systems thinking and adult learning expertise to my work in the dharma.

I value a simple, spacious life, including gardening and my most recent pursuit, weightlifting. Practice and service to the community are central to my life's vows and a meaningful role in the world.