Dr. Ajari

I’ve recently begun compiling information for a book on the life of Dr. Ajari Pemchekov, a Russian teacher of Buddhism and Christianity in San Francisco in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s.

Though he was (and is still) called Dr. Ajari by his followers, he was also known as Neville Warwick.

If you knew Dr. Ajari, tell me one of those infamous stories. Did you firewalk with him? See him play at a holy-man jam, or directing parking for a talk by Kalu Rinpoche? Did you live in the hando and burn goma on the beach? I want to know. Please contact me.

6 Responses to “Dr. Ajari”

  1. Eric Forgeng, on April 12th, 2007 at 2:04 pm Said:

    I was around Kagyu Droden Kunkhyab on Fell Street in the Haight in the early 1980s when Kalu Rinpoche was there, and as a translator for Lama Tsangtsing and others in 1985-86. Dr Ajari would come by from time to time with some of his troops, and the lamas were very amused that he would always give them 20 dollars whether they answered his questions or not. He was generally considered to be something of a nut-bar, although I have to assume that there was some cultural misunderstanding. He was always very nice to me.

  2. admin, on April 13th, 2007 at 3:00 pm Said:

    Eric, were you ever a witness to one of the fights between Lama Lodru and Dr. Ajari?

  3. Eric Forgeng, on June 7th, 2007 at 1:12 pm Said:

    Hi,
    No, but I can just imagine. I understand that he is referred to as “Lama Lodru Rinpoche” now that Jamgon Kongtrul III and Kalu Rinpoche Sr. have passed on, and the control system is suspended. I guess that’s California for you.

  4. John Plummer, on July 17th, 2007 at 5:07 am Said:

    Jenn - I suggested to Mansur Johnson that he contact you, as his memoir of Samuel Lewis includes a lot of storied involving Dr Ajari. http://www.mansurjohnson.com - It’s a great book.

  5. admin, on July 17th, 2007 at 8:01 am Said:

    Thanks, John, I’ll check this out. I haven’t made much progress on the Dr. Ajari front this summer, but it’s a long-term project, so that’s fine…more time for information to trickle in. I appreciate your help!

  6. Ladybear, on August 9th, 2007 at 6:26 pm Said:

    VK told me he forwarded my story & photos to you yesterday.
    The story is personal and i would not want it published.
    Please contact me about it if you wish.

    Here is one of my favorite Dr. Ajari stories.
    One night in early fall of 1977, I had gone to Ashland, Oregon with friends to
    see the Star Wars movie.
    Coming home over the Siskiyou Mountains, the car began shooting FLAMES out
    of the exhaust pipe.

    We didn’t know what was going on, and fortunately made it back to Mt. Shasta safely.
    When we arrived, there was the group, in front of my old apartment building.
    It must have been midnight or so.
    Dr. Ajrari pacing back & forth, with mala in hand.

    I got out of the car and he says…
    “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
    I’VE BEEN SWEATING BULLETS!”

    I still laugh out loud when I think of it!

    He was one in a million.

    With Love, Ladybear

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