ILONKA HAREZI
There are no adequate words to describe the incredible vision, caring, and discipline that has gone into the work of this saintly man we call Lama Tenzin. His endeavors have taken him near and far, always focused on providing the best possible life for his children of the C.E.D. Society.
I had the distinct privilege to work with Lama Tenzin for over 12 years, and during this time, we were able to create an extraordinary documentary, Walking The Waking Journey. The documentary takes us on an arduous journey to the Upper Dolpo region of the Himalayas. After many years since their rescue, the C.E.D. children were excited to share all they had learned and experienced with their families. Through their eyes, we gain a better appreciation of the perils faced by Lama Tenzin to repeat the journey many times over to rescue the disadvantaged children.
It has been my honor to support the many accomplishments of Lama Tenzin and his beautiful children. His vision and compassion have changed the lives of the children he rescued and every human interaction along the road since his monastic studies.
I firmly believe that if we had more people like Lama Tenzin, whose mission in life is to make a difference in others’ lives, our planet would be of a higher thinking order for generations to come. His work is to be applauded, and he is my hero.
Respectfully,
Ilonka Harezi
Founder, Teslar
www.ilonkaharezi.com
DR. SONNEE AND ROBERT WEEDN
Meeting Lama Tenzin Choegyal and traveling to visit his CED orphanage in Dehradun, India, on numerous occasions, has been life changing and inspirational for us. Lama Tenzin’s vision of excellent education and a nurturing family environment for the children he serves, who might otherwise be victims of poverty and human trafficking, is a beautiful testament to cultivating human potential. He overcomes the inevitable challenges and obstacles that emerge, with enviable grace and good humor, coupled with astounding perseverance.
JOE RICHARDSON
In 2013 I had the privilege to travel with Lama Tenzin Choegyal, another American, Joyce Chang, and a group of children now living at the C.E.D. Society in Dehradun, India. This trip was the first time the children would return to their native homes in Nepal’s Upper Dolpo region since their rescue. Upper Dolpo is nestled in the Himalayan mountain range with 12,000-18,000 ft. elevations, making it one of the world’s most remote areas. The epic trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, and I had no idea what an arduous journey it would be. Our progress was slow and measured as we trekked up the mountain, traveling for 12 hours/day for two weeks over the rough terrain of loose rocks and through heart-stopping steep and narrow paths with rivers plummeting thousands of feet below. Along the way, I marveled at how Lama Tenzin had managed this same path many years earlier with children as young as two and no older than six or seven.
This visit’s primary goal was to reunite the children with their families after living at the C.E.D. for about 6-10 years. Lama Tenzin had promised the families that he would take care of their children, educate and nurture them and return one day to show how well they were doing. The secondary goal was to rescue a few more children and offer the same future as he had with the first group of children. On our return journey from the Dolpo, we were able to bring a mother, her two daughters, and a third child back to the C.E.D. The third objective was to interview the region’s women and collect information focusing principally on their maternal lifestyles. As the champion of women’s rights and emancipation, Lama Tenzin’s vision to open the C.E.D. was just the beginning of future initiatives to come. In our endeavor to accumulate information, we were interested in the difficulties many of these women faced with virtually no access to modern healthcare services. With the valuable data we gathered, we returned and were able to begin to develop potential solutions.
When I first arrived in Dehradun, India, I had no idea that the prospect of trekking through the Himalayas with Lama Tenzin would change the trajectory of my life. This journey completely transformed my outlook and the desire to contribute something back. After spending many weeks with Lama Tenzin at the C.E.D. Society following our adventure with the children, I realized that I wanted to share stories of inspirational people such as him. My studies pivoted from finances to the film and television industry, where I currently work as a production assistant on documentary films and relativity television.
Once I had decided to pursue a career in the film industry, I also was clear that my mission was to share inspiring and motivational stories of people who have positively impacted others through their daily actions. Lama Tenzin continues to serve as the role model. Never have I ever encountered such a selfless man who gives himself so thoroughly in service to others. Each time I have reconnected with him over the years, I am re-energized with a sense of duty to help others and give back to those who are less fortunate. No one in my life has continually motivated me to strive daily to be a better person the way Lama Tenzin has. I couldn’t be more grateful to have met him and experienced traveling to Upper Dolpo with the children. One lesson I take away from the experience of knowing Lama Tenzin is that one man can make all the difference in the future of others.
JIM TISDALL
I met Lama Tenzin when he gave a presentation at Johns Hopkins Hospital almost ten years ago. Later, my wife, Dr. Karin Blakemore, and I went to visit the C.E.D. Society in Dehradun, India, and saw the fantastic job he was doing to help the children under his care. We were inspired to hear about the memorable journey in detail when my stepson, Joe Richardson, joined Lama Tenzin on a trek to Nepal’s Upper Dolpo to bring more disadvantaged children back to the C.E.D.
Lama Tenzin is one of the most good-hearted, extraordinarily capable, and effective social workers of our times. His dedication, love, and keen intelligence are constantly brought to bear on the welfare of his children. The C.E.D. is as full of positive human activity as anyplace could be. Lama Tenzin lives a very simple, even austere, life, devoting all of his energy and all of the resources he gathers towards the benefit of his young charges and the wider community. His passion and commitment to improving the position of women and the disabled are to be emulated.