About the Authors
 
Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche is the 54 year old abbot of one of the largest monasteries in Nepal, with over 250 monks.  He was born in Tibet, and fled that country with his family when he was eight years old.  He trained in Sikkim, then founded his monastery near Kathmandu in 1976.  In addition to running a monastery with over 250 monks, he has focused on making authentic Tibetan Buddhist teachings available to Westerners.  He has overseen the publication of over 35 books on Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, and has authored six books of his own (see www.rangjung.com for the full range of books).  He regularly visits and teaches at retreat centers in many countries, including his North American retreat center in Northern California, called Rangjung Yeshe Gomde (www.gomdeusa.org).
 
David R. Shlim, M.D. is a recognized international expert in travel medicine, having published dozens of original research papers and authored a number of chapters in travel medicine and infectious disease textbooks.  He was the Medical Director of the CIWEC Clinic Travel Medicine Center in Kathmandu, Nepal from 1983 to 1998.  During that time he also offered free medical care to hundreds of newly arrived Tibetan refugees, mainly suffering from frostbite from crossing the high Himalayas without proper equipment.  He organized the two Medicine and Compassion courses in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he currently lives with his family. 

Click here for a list of the scientific articles by Dr. Shlim.