Yogi Chen

Who is Yogi Chen?

Chen Chien Ming, also known as Yogi C. M. Chen or simply as Yogi Chen, was a Chinese hermit who lived in Kalimpong, India, from 1947 until 1972, when he moved to the United States, where he lived for the remainder of his life. According to Lama Ole Nydahl, Chen had, in his youth in China, been terrified of death and had at first practiced Taoist life-extending exercises. Later he turned to Buddhism and, in search of teachings, went to Tibet, where he spent several years living in a cave. He also met the famous French explorer, Alexandra David-Néel, while he was in Kham.

He had as disciples two English-born bhikkhus, Sangharakshita and Khantipalo. The three men together compiled materials for a book, published as Buddhist Meditation, Systematic and Practical. According to one version Sangharakshita would ask Yogi Chen questions, and Khantipalo wrote down and edited the dialog. But in his own version Sangharakshita states "The three of us probably discussed meditation, for it was either on this occasion, or shortly afterwards, that Yogi Chen undertook to give Khantipalo and me a talk on the subject. Whether it was his own idea, or the result of a request by his two yellow-robed visitors, I no longer recollect. Whichever it was, the talk proved to be a long one. It was given in weekly instalments, over a period of four months...'.