On the full moon in January, at the age of 22, in Bodhgaya, India, Lama Tsultrim is ordained as Karma Tsultrim Chödron by the 16th Karmapa, Rigpai Dorje. His Excellence (H.E.) Tai Situ, H.E. Jamgon Kongtrul, H.E. Gyaltsap Rinpoche, and H.E. Sharmar Rinpoche, the four main reincarnate tulkus, attend the ordination as her witnesses. Lama Tsultrim is the first American to be ordained by H.H. the 16th Karmapa.

After her ordination, Lama Tsultrim returns to Nepal and studies with Kagyu Lama Sapchu Rinpoche. She stays at Kopan Monastery with Lama Thupten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche near Lama Zopa’s cave which is near Mt. Everest at 16,000ft.

Lama Tsultrim has a vision, the first of many, of creating a Western retreat center where meditation could be practiced as it had been in Tibet. The center would be a place where visitors could explore the interface between Western psychology and Buddhism. She shares the vision with her mother during her visit to Nepal and writes a letter to her aunt explaining the vision.