Linda Lewis met Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1972 at the Crazy Wisdom Seminar at Jackson Hole, Wyoming and promptly moved from Bainbridge island, Washington to Boulder, Colorado to be his student for the next 16 years. She taught at both the '85 and '86 seminaries, at Naropa from '85 to '88, and at Karmê Chöling where she lived from '88-'92. She also has done the 3 year retreat at Gampo Abbey's Sopa Chöling and since then has been an "Associate" member of the Nalanda Translation Committee while actively teaching both Buddhist courses and directing Shambhala Levels.