I had assumed that all Tibetan lamas were just like the Dalai Lama, teaching that they were nonviolent people living simple lives, and they did not engage in politics. But I was wrong.

People were complaining that on the big sites they weren't finding people that shared their spiritual interests. I find that people, the deeper they are into Buddhism, the more important it is for them to have somebody else who's interested in it. The people who meditate or go to a Buddhist center tend to place a high premium on finding people who share their spiritual path.

When I found out about this controversy a lot of doubts arose in my mind. I started thinking, were these Buddhist teachers following their own precepts?

(Teaching) is the most rewarding job I've ever had. When you're in this industry, it's in your blood.

We were both well-known, teaching, working at our professions and having a good standard of living. But then life got very violent.

Dan and I were fighting for our lives. I focused on living and not getting killed.