Chuck Stanford, Lama Emeritus Changchup Kunchok Dorje
Chuck Stanford is an ordained Lama within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. His 20-year course of study has included multiple trips to Dharamsala India where he received teachings from H.H. Dalai Lama and to Golok, Tibet where he received teachings from one of his root teachers. Lama Emeritus Stanford is co-founder of the Rime Buddhist Center & Institute of Tibetan Studies located in Kansas City. At the end of 2015 Lama Emeritus Stanford retired as the spiritual leader and Executive Director of the Rime Buddhist Center.
Photo by Mark Berndt
Lama Emeritus Stanford had been the Buddhist member for Kansas City’s Interfaith Council for 20 years. In addition he had written a monthly column on Buddhism for the religion section of the Kansas City Star since 1995.
Lama Emeritus Stanford was very involved in prison outreach. He had worked as a part-time chaplain at Leavenworth USP Federal prison in 2004 and 2005 when it was a maximum-security prison. He also had worked as a part- time chaplain at the United States Disciplinary Barracks (U.S.D.B.) prison at Ft. Leavenworth. In addition he served as a volunteer Chaplain at Lansing Correctional Facility.
Known for his great success and unique approach, Lama Chuck is counted on by those in the community and across the country for his thoughts and advice. He is a published author, penning The Basics of Buddhism, which explores the 2,500-year old Buddhist tradition.
Lama Emeritus Stanford has been presented with the following awards:
- 2007 Peace Award presented by the Crescent Peace Society on Oct. 26, 2007
- 2009 Heroes of Humanity Award presented by the Art of Living and the International Association for Human Values (IAHV)
- 2013 Peace Builder Award presented by the Global and Multicultural Education Center
- 2015 Bodhisattva Award presented by the Rime Buddhist Center
Chaplain Mary Stanford, BCC
Mary Stanford is co-founder of the Rime Buddhist Center and is a certified Buddhist chaplain who has worked in hospice for many years. She has traveled to Dharamsala India where she received teachings from H.H. Dalai Lama and to Golok, Tibet where she received teachings from one of her root teachers. She has a fine arts degree from the Kansas City Art Institute and is particularly interested in exploring the role Buddhism plays in Tibetan art and culture.