Linda Pritzker

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Linda Pritzker
Linda Pritzker, aka Lama Tsomo, Headshot, 2014.jpg
Linda Pritzker (Lama Tsomo) in 2014
BornSeptember 1953 (age 71)
Other names
  • Lama Tsomo
Occupation(s)Tibetan lama, author [1]
Known forInheritance, Buddhism
Children3
Parent Robert Pritzker (father)
Relatives Pritzker family

Linda Pritzker [2] ), also known as Lama Tsomo, is an American lama in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. She is a spiritual teacher, author, philanthropist, and co-founder of the Namchak Foundation and Namchak Retreat Ranch [3] in Missoula, Montana where she currently resides. She is a member of the Pritzker family, known for the Hyatt Hotel fortune. As of July 2018, her net worth was estimated at $1.77 billion. [4]

Contents

Early life

Pritzker was born September 1953 in Oberlin, Ohio, the second of three children of Jewish-American businessman Robert Pritzker [5] [6] and Audrey Gilbert. [7] [8] She has two full siblings: Jennifer N. Pritzker (b. James, 1950), [9] a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and founder of the Pritzker Military Library, [10] and Karen Pritzker (b. 1958).

Her parents divorced in 1979. [6] In 1980, her father married Irene Dryburgh; their children are Matthew Pritzker and Liesel Pritzker Simmons. [6] The following year, her mother married Albert B. Ratner, co-chairman of Cleveland-based real estate developer Forest City Enterprises. [7] [8]

Career

After earning a master's degree in Counseling Psychology and working as a psychotherapist for several years, Pritzker began a spiritual path to Tibetan Buddhism. [11] In 1995, she began studying with Tibetan meditation master Tulku Sangak Rinpoche and became fluent in Tibetan. [12] Rinpoche is world holder of the Namchak Lineage, a branch of the Nyingma path of Tibetan Buddhism. [13]

Pritzker was ordained a lama [4] in February 2005 by Rinpoche. ABC News' Dan Harris documented Lama Tsomo's journey to Buddhist practices in his podcast 10% Happier. [14]

Today, Lama Tsomo's work revolves around the initiatives of the Namchak Foundation. While parts of the Namchak Retreat Ranch are under construction, [15] the retreat has several offerings for students looking to begin or strengthen their meditation practice including two online courses, guided meditations, Learning Circles, and several live events per year. [16]

Publications

Lama Tsomo is author of the Ancient Wisdom for our Times Tibetan Buddhist Practice Series, [17] including Book 1: Why Bother: An Introduction, [18] Book 2: Wisdom and Compassion (Starting with Yourself), [19] and Book 3: Deepening Wisdom, Deepening Connection. [20]

Lama Tsomo also wrote Why is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling? A Westerner's Introduction and Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Practice. [21] The foreword was written by the Dalai Lama and won a silver medal in the 2016 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards). [22]

Other books by Lama Tsomo include The Princess Who Wept Pearls: The Feminine Journey in Fairy Tales [23] . She co-authored The Lotus & The Rose: A Conversation Between Tibetan Buddhism & Mystical Christianity [24] and was a contributor to The Dharma of Dogs: Our Best Friends as Spiritual Teachers edited by Tami Simon. [25]

Personal life

Lama Tsomo is divorced and has three children: Rachel, Roland, and Rosemary. [26]

Publications

References

  1. van Gelder, Sarah. "How an American lama finds joy during turbulent times" . Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  2. "Linda Pritzker: Official Website" . Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  3. "Namchak Teachers". Namchak LLC. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  4. 1 2 Forbes: The World's Billionaires - Linda Pritzker September 2020
  5. Linda Pritzker, Forbes (October 2006)
  6. 1 2 3 CNN Money: "THE PRITZKERS UNVEILING A PRIVATE FAMILY Can you believe it? These billionaires actually like each other. But as Pritzkers proliferate, a worry arises: Can they maintain their striking success – and keep everyone happy?", Ford S. Worthy, 25 April 1988
  7. 1 2 Yale University: "Slow readers, creative thinkers: gift will spur dyslexia studies - New center will explore links between reading problems, creativity" retrieved 21 December 2012
  8. 1 2 Encyclopedia of Cleveland History: "Biography of the Ratner Family" retrieved 21 December 2012
  9. Geidner, Chris (23 August 2013). "Billionaire Backer of Open Transgender Military Service Comes Out As Transgender". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  10. Pritzker Military Library website: "Colonel (IL) J. N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired)" retrieved 21 December 2012
  11. "Linda Pritzker Lama Tsomo". Linda Pritzker. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  12. Chaney, Rob. "Buddhist teacher expands Tibetan tradition in Montana". The Missoulian. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  13. "Who is Lama Tsomo". Namchak. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  14. Effron, Lauren. "Hotel Heiress-Turned-Tibetan Buddhist Lama on Navigating Life Toward Happiness". ABC News. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  15. "Namchak Retreat Ranch". Namchak LLC. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  16. "Namchak Resources". Namchak LLC. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  17. "Ancient Wisdom for Our Times Tibetan Buddhist Practice Series". Amazon. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  18. 1 2 Tsomo, Lama (April 2021). Why Bother?: An Introduction (Ancient Wisdom for Our Times Tibetan Buddhist Practice Series). Namchak. ISBN   978-0990571100.
  19. 1 2 Tsomo, Lama (September 2021). Wisdom and Compassion (Starting with Yourself) (Ancient Wisdom for Our Times Tibetan Buddhist Practice Series). Namchak. ISBN   978-0990571100.
  20. 1 2 Tsomo, Lama (October 2022). Deepening Wisdom, Deepening Connection (Ancient Wisdom for Our Times Tibetan Buddhist Practice Series)). Namchak. ISBN   978-0990571100.
  21. 1 2 Tsomo, Lama (April 2016). Why is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling? A Westerner's Introduction and Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Practice. Namchak. ISBN   978-0990571100.
  22. "Independent Publisher Book Awards 2016 Winners". Jenkins Group Publishing Services. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  23. 1 2 The Princess Who Wept Pearls via Amazon.
  24. 1 2 Tsomo, Lama; Fox, Matthew (2018). The Lotus & The Rose. Namchak. ISBN   978-0999577004.
  25. 1 2 Simon, Tami (July 2017). The Dharma of Dogs. Sounds True. ISBN   978-1622037414.
  26. Bertagnoli, Lisa (29 June 2018). "How the next-gen Pritzkers are spending the family fortune". Crain's Chicago Business.
  27. "10% Happier with Dan Harris' and Lama Tsomo". YouTube .
  28. "METTA HOUR PODCAST • Episode 84 • Lama Tsomo". 29 October 2018.
  29. "Lama Tsomo - Buddha at the Gas Pump Interview". YouTube .
  30. "Episode 250 -- Lama Tsomo :: Why Is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling".
  31. "Episode 28: Lama Tsomo". Archived from the original on 22 February 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019.