Claudio Cipullo

Claudio Cipullo obtained his doctorate (Ph.D.) in Psychology and Naturopathy at the Open International University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. One day, while in Bodhgaya, Claudio found himself staring fixedly at a photo of Lama Yeshe. “I decided he was calling me! That course was like an explanation of my whole life,” said Claudio.

Claudio Cipullo and Piero Cerri at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Pomaia, Italy, 1979.

He studied as a Buddhist monk at the Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies Rabten Choeling of Mont Pèlerin, Vevey, Switzerland, founded by Venerable Geshe Rabten Rinpoche. In Zurich, he studied with Jungian analyst Dora Kalff, from whom he learned the game of the mandala as expression therapy. He was conferred the Chu-Len Lineage by Lama Yeshe, Geshe Djampa Wandy and Kanchen Zopala, the abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in India. In 1971 when he was a student of Lama Yeshe, he attended the first meditation course in Kopan Monastery.

He has met and received teachings from the greatest Tibetan Lamas of that time, including His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang, Kalu Rinpoche, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe. Claudio, together with Lama Zopa Rinpoche, also received Dorje Shugden initiation (sogtae) from Lama Yeshe’s root guru, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche.

I myself took the initiation of Shugden from His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche. There were four of us. Lama Yeshe, Claudio Cipullo, Piero Cerri and myself. However, this initiation can be given to only three people at a time; there cannot be four. Kyabje Rinpoche had set up the altar and made all the preparations perfectly — of course, everything he did was always perfect — and was there, waiting for us. After the four of us sat down, he said, “You cannot be four; only three. Whoever has Bodhicitta, who has let go of the ‘I’ and cherishes others, should leave.” Lama shot up immediately. I just sat there like a donkey, as if I were made of stone. So then the three of us, Claudio, Piero and I, took the initiation. Lama Zopa, www.lamayeshe.com

In 1983, Claudio Cipullo met Lama Gangchen Rinpoche, a reincarnate Lama who was enthroned at Gangchen Choepeling Monastery. He was a renowned Lama healer among the Tibetan communities in Nepal, India and Sikkim, a private physician to the Royal Family, and the holder of an ancient and unbroken lineage of Tantric masters dating from the time of Shakyamuni Buddha.

Lama Gangchen in Albagnano, Italy

Since that fateful meeting, Claudio has followed Gangchen Rinpoche around the world, receiving teachings and collaborating with him. 40 years after he first encountered Tibetan Buddhism, Claudio Cipullo is teaching NgalSo Self-Healing and Chu-Len “taking the essence” at Albagnano Healing Meditation Centre in Italy which was founded by Lama Gangchen Rinpoche. He has kept his faith, devotion and clean samaya with his Gurus, working to carry on their works and lineage to benefit all beings.