Laurie Lai

Laurie was born in Hong Kong, grew up in Europe, and moved to the U.S. at the age of 16.  She has a B.A. in Psychology from San Francisco State University.

Laurie met Sogyal Rinpoche in 1999 in San Francisco, and in 2000, traveled to Lerab Ling to attend the summer retreats and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit. When Laurie returned, she joined the Rigpa U.S.team as a bookkeeper, wishing to give back what she had received.

In 2006, Laurie was recruited by Lerab Ling to help establish and lead the accounting department during the three year retreat. She established policies and budgets for Rigpa International, Congregation Rigpa Lerab Ling, and La Source, and managed the accounting staff. Laurie considers herself most fortunate to have been able to support the
three year retreat in this way and to have received the teachings and blessings from the many masters who visited Lerab Ling.

In 2011 Laurie returned to the U.S. to lead the administration for the Tenzin Gyatso Institute. As part of TGI’s Scholars Program, Laurie had the opportunity to accompany Nuptul Rinpoche, Khenpo Kunga, and Lama Trinley during their first years as students attending a university in the West.

Laurie worked for the Spiritual Care Program as their  International Administrator and is now member of the Rigpa US Management Team, as well as handling the Accounts Receivables.

Laure speaks fluent French and conversational Cantonese. Laurie is also a Reiki master, Touch for Health practitioner, and a dowser. She lives in Silicon Valley where she enjoys spending quality time with her Israeli Zen Buddhist husband.