About Tenzin
Tenzin Kiyosaki
Tenzin, named Barbara Emi Kiyosaki at birth, received the name Tenzin Kacho when she was ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1985.
Tenzin practiced as a Buddhist nun for 27 years and when she returned to lay life, retained “Tenzin” for her name to always remember her spiritual roots.
Studying death and dying grew into a strong interest particularly after suddenly losing her mother.
Always a joy to meet HH the Dalai Lama
A Precious Human Life
“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to have woken up. I am alive; I have a precious Human Life! I am not going to waste it, I am going to use all of my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others. I am not going to get angry, or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
“My mother was exhausted after campaigning for my father who lost a bid for Lieutenant Governor for Hawaii in November 1970. The last words I remember hearing my mother say to my father before he drove her to see her doctor was, “I might die.” It seemed implausible; she was always a strong presence in my life whether I was near her or not, she was forty-nine, but she was gone by nightfall. None of us had a chance to say goodbye. My two brothers were fighting overseas in the Vietnam War, my sister was in college in California. We were all stunned and shocked. Though it’s been many years since Mom died, I’m still unravelling who she was and the nature of our relationship.”
Relationships with our parents and other close loved ones is a powerful influence on us, no matter how long or short we are together. Some of us may live more than a century, and others barely into childhood.
Some people influence us deeply and we remember our relationship for a life-time. Words, actions we engage in with others can influence our thought, our direction in life, and our memory, forever.
Tenzin’s work and interest is in exploring relationships; to others, to self, to life and the brevity of it.
With my brother Robert & his wife Kim
Media & Interviews
On Today.com
3 biggest regrets people have at the end of life
Death & Caring for the Dying
Teaching at Sravasti Abbey
One on One with Tenzin Kiyosaki
Interview Rudy Lira Kusuma
Walking Through the Valley
Interview with ThinkTechHawaii
OnCenter Article
A Publication from
Torrance Memorial Medical Center