Yogi Chen
Encyclopedia
Yogi Chen was a Chinese hermit who lived in Kalimpong, India
, from 1947 until 1972, when he moved to the United States
, where he lived for the remainder of his life. According to Lama Ole Nydahl, Chen had, in his youth in China, been terrified of death and had at first practiced Taoist life-extending exercises. Later he turned to Buddhism and, in search of teachings, went to Tibet, where he spent several years living in a cave. He also met the famous French explorer, Alexandra David-Neel
, while he was in Kham.
He had as disciples two English-born Bhikkhus, Sangharakshita
and Khantipalo
. The three men together compiled materials for a book, published as Buddhist Meditation, Systematic and Practical. Sangharakshita would ask Yogi Chen questions, and Khantipalo wrote down and edited the dialog.
Yogi Chen was visited repeatedly in Kalimpong by Lama Ole Nydahl, who related that Chen had not left his hermitage in the 24 years that he had (until then) lived there. He was also surprised to find that Chen had criticisms of several well-known lamas, whom Nydahl had naively expected to be perfect. During his years in the hermitage (actually a small bungalow on the outskirts of the bazaar, although it had originally been outside Kalimpong before the town expanded), Yogi Chen spent most of his day meditating, with half an hour devoted to writing. He rarely received visitors.
Both Sangharakshita and Khantipalo describe Chen as "eccentric," but both men, and Lama Nydahl, had a high regard for his spiritual attainments. Sangharakshita regarded Chen as one of his teachers, although he says that the yogi refused to regard himself as a teacher. Lama Nydahl has referred to Chen as "the Great Yogi Chen" and as "a highly accomplished teacher."
Sangharakshita says that he introduced the poet, Allen Ginsberg
, to Yogi Chen in Kalimpong. Chen was approached in the United States by Carlos Castaneda
, who related that he was being taught how to produce a "double" of himself, and who asked if there were similar practices in Buddhism. "Of course, said Yogi Chen, there were methods for producing up to six emanations of oneself. 'But why bother? Then you only have six times as much trouble.' " Daniel C. Noel, who recounts the Castaneda anecdote, says that Chen was regarded as a "local saint."
Lama Surya Das quotes Yogi Chen's advice on setting up an altar in his book, The Mind Is Mightier Than the Sword: Enlightening the Mind, Opening the Heart.
Zen priest Ken Ireland is a former disciple of Yogi Chen. Yogi Chen's main disciple is Dr. Yutang Lin.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, from 1947 until 1972, when he moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he lived for the remainder of his life. According to Lama Ole Nydahl, Chen had, in his youth in China, been terrified of death and had at first practiced Taoist life-extending exercises. Later he turned to Buddhism and, in search of teachings, went to Tibet, where he spent several years living in a cave. He also met the famous French explorer, Alexandra David-Neel
Alexandra David-Néel
Alexandra David-Néel born Louise Eugénie Alexandrine Marie David was a Belgian-French explorer, spiritualist, Buddhist and writer, most known for her visit to Lhasa, Tibet, in 1924, when it was forbidden to foreigners...
, while he was in Kham.
He had as disciples two English-born Bhikkhus, Sangharakshita
Sangharakshita
Sangharakshita is a Buddhist teacher and writer, and founder of the Triratna Buddhist Community, which was known until 2010 as the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order, or FWBO....
and Khantipalo
Khantipalo
Khantipalo, or Phra Khantipalo is a British born Buddhist and former Theravada Buddhist monk.Born as Laurence Mills in 1932, Khantipalo was ordained as a Buddhist novice in London by Dr Hammalawa Saddhatissa Maha Thera and later under Bhikkhu Buddharakshita in India ordained as a Bhikkhu in...
. The three men together compiled materials for a book, published as Buddhist Meditation, Systematic and Practical. Sangharakshita would ask Yogi Chen questions, and Khantipalo wrote down and edited the dialog.
Yogi Chen was visited repeatedly in Kalimpong by Lama Ole Nydahl, who related that Chen had not left his hermitage in the 24 years that he had (until then) lived there. He was also surprised to find that Chen had criticisms of several well-known lamas, whom Nydahl had naively expected to be perfect. During his years in the hermitage (actually a small bungalow on the outskirts of the bazaar, although it had originally been outside Kalimpong before the town expanded), Yogi Chen spent most of his day meditating, with half an hour devoted to writing. He rarely received visitors.
Both Sangharakshita and Khantipalo describe Chen as "eccentric," but both men, and Lama Nydahl, had a high regard for his spiritual attainments. Sangharakshita regarded Chen as one of his teachers, although he says that the yogi refused to regard himself as a teacher. Lama Nydahl has referred to Chen as "the Great Yogi Chen" and as "a highly accomplished teacher."
Sangharakshita says that he introduced the poet, Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg
Irwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression...
, to Yogi Chen in Kalimpong. Chen was approached in the United States by Carlos Castaneda
Carlos Castaneda
Carlos Castaneda was a Peruvian-born American anthropologist and author....
, who related that he was being taught how to produce a "double" of himself, and who asked if there were similar practices in Buddhism. "Of course, said Yogi Chen, there were methods for producing up to six emanations of oneself. 'But why bother? Then you only have six times as much trouble.' " Daniel C. Noel, who recounts the Castaneda anecdote, says that Chen was regarded as a "local saint."
Lama Surya Das quotes Yogi Chen's advice on setting up an altar in his book, The Mind Is Mightier Than the Sword: Enlightening the Mind, Opening the Heart.
Zen priest Ken Ireland is a former disciple of Yogi Chen. Yogi Chen's main disciple is Dr. Yutang Lin.