Notes

These notes come from my ongoing study and practice of Buddhism.

They began in the early 1990s, when I learned from two Tibetan monks from India at a small temple in Surabaya, Indonesia. I no longer remember their names, but I now know with certainty that they were monks of the Drikung Kagyu lineage - one of the main branches of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. They wore the deep maroon robes typical of the Kagyu tradition, with small touches of yellow in the upper garments, a style I only later learned to recognize.

One of the earliest impressions that stayed with me was the presence of a Tara statue in the temple. Even as a teenager, I felt an immediate and natural connection to her—something I didn't fully understand at the time. That early affinity never faded. Tara would later become central in my Dzogchen practice, and she remains my yidam today. In hindsight, this thread of connection feels like the most continuous element of my path.

Another memory that confirmed the Drikung Kagyu lineage was the initiation ceremony for a newly ordained monk. The teachers explained the meaning of the small dot marks placed on the shaved head—symbols representing vows, discipline, and stages of monastic commitment. It was a simple conversation shared between friends and teachers, but it reflected a distinctly Drikung way of transmitting the tradition: direct, humble, and quietly profound. Looking back, there is no doubt that my earliest training came from this lineage.

Although I later continued my studies through Dzogchen, rooted in the Nyingma tradition, I still regard those first two Drikung Kagyu monks as my primary teachers. The teachings I've received since then complement rather than contradict what I learned in those early years.

These notes are not authoritative or comprehensive. They're simply a way for me to organize what I've learned - concepts, practices, and reflections - and to make them available in case they're helpful to others.