Chuck Stanford, Lama Changchup Kunchok Dorje
Chuck Stanford is an ordained Lama within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. His 20 year course of study has included trips to Dharamsala India where he received teachings from H.H. Dalai Lama and to Golok. Lama Stanford is co-founder of the Rime Buddhist Center & Monastery & Institute of Tibetan Studies located in Kansas City.
Lama Stanford is the Buddhist member for Kansas City's Interfaith Council. In addition he writes a monthly column on Buddhism for the religion section of the Kansas City Star. He has also written other freelance articles on Buddhism and Tibetan culture. In 1998 after doing extensive research in Dharamsala India he wrote an article on Tibetan Medicine that was published in the Kansas City Star newspaper. He has written a book on Buddhism designed to be used as a study guide by other Buddhist Centers.
Currently Lama Stanford serves as the spiritual leader and Executive Director of the Rime Buddhist Center which he administers on a day-to-day basis. In addition he teaches classes on meditation and Buddhism and performs Buddhist ceremonies, including weddings and funerals. He also serves on the following boards:
- Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council
- Harmony
- Shawnee Mission Hospital's Board of Institute for Spirituality in Health
- Friends of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Kansas
- Missouri Department of Corrections Religious Programming Council
- Board of Bioethics for the Kansas City University of Medicine & Bioethics
Lama Stanford is very involved in prison outreach. He has Buddhist inmate groups at three area prisons he visits regularly. In addition he serves as a volunteer Chaplain at Lansing Correctional Facility.
In addition Lama Stanford has been asked to consult with and give Dharma teachings at Buddhist Centers in other cities.
