My screen name, Zangmo Blue Thundercloud, is a combination of my Tibetan Buddhist and Native American names.

 

When I became a Buddhist in 1978, I took Refuge Vows from my teacher, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, at KTD Monastery. At that time, he gave me the refuge name of Karma Tsultrim Zangmo.

 Sally Clay photo

Loosely translated, Karma means "Good Action"; this first name is given to members of the Karma Kagyu lineage. Tsultrim means "Discipline," and Zangmo means "Good Woman."

I received the name Blue Thundercloud from an Ojibway medicine man named Dave Courchene in Manitoba, Canada. While I was there I became good friends with two of his children, Crystal and Adam.

 

Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche

This is my teacher, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, abbot of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra monastery in Woodstock, New York.

 

In his left hand, he holds to his heart a Tibetan bell, representing wisdom. In his right hand, he extends a dorge, or thunderbolt, representing compassion.

 

This is Green Tara, the Tibetan yidam whom I try to emulate. Khenpo Rinpoche gave me the personal empowerment to practice the tantric discipline that develops the qualities of this diety, whom we call Drolma (Lady).

 

Tara's left hand is raised in the fearless gesture. Her right hand is extended in the giving gesture. Thus she represents both power and blessings.

Green Tara