David Shapiro

David Shapiro became a student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1973 and was the founder-director of the Milwaukee Dharmadhatu (now the Milwaukee Shambhala Center) and now serves as an occasional speaker at the Jikoji Zen Center in California. He was a practicing internist for 35 years and Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at The Medical College of Wisconsin. He is a past president of the Milwaukee Academy of Medicine, a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and held numerous administrative positions with Ascension Healthcare-WI including eight years as Chief Medical Officer. He is a member of the Light of Berotsana Translation Group, the Heart Essence Sangha Council and now lives in California with his wife, Jane Hawes. He contributed the historical introduction to the first book of the epic and is the author of Gesar of Ling: A Bardic Tale from the Snow Land of Tibet and Gesar and COVID-19: An Ancient Warrior Returns to Battle the Pandemic. In addition to his translation work, Jane and he provide full time distance learning for two of their grandchildren and David volunteers as a tax-preparer and financial advisor for a local charitable facility.