Elizabeth West
Elizabeth was a Catholic nun for 30 years. In 1977 she met two nuns of her order who came from India and led retreats using Yoga and Vedanta teachings in a Christian context. This awoke her interest in Indian philosophy and religions and the practice of meditation. She spent time in India visiting Hindu and Christian Ashrams. After this she worked for the Catholic Church in Westminster Interfaith, fostering dialogue between the many Faiths present in the Greater London Area. During this time she took an MA in World Religions at London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies. Elizabeth has also led Buddhist/Christian retreats with various Buddhist teachers. As a result of this she founded the Buddhist Christian Vedanta Network. On leaving her Order Elizabeth went to live at the Christian Meditation Centre in London. While there she helped organise and took part in the Good Heart Seminar where the Dalai Lama spoke on the Christian Gospels. This led to the Way of Peace series of events with Christian Meditation and the Dalai Lama. These events strengthened her interest in Tibetan Buddhism and its practical teachings, which has led her in recent years to move to North Wales and study with Lama Shenpen Hookham, a teacher of Dzogchen and Mahamudra meditation practices, which are rooted in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Now back in London she follows the Dzogchen teachings under the guidance of Alan Wallace. Her experience of several traditions from the inside inspires her to continue the work of dialogue at the level of practice, enabling people to deepen their understanding of the spiritual journey.
