{"id":790,"date":"2026-01-26T17:44:55","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T17:44:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/?page_id=790"},"modified":"2026-07-23T15:23:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T15:23:23","slug":"team-members","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/index.php\/team-members\/","title":{"rendered":"Team members"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t<link href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Lora:ital,wght@0,400;0,600;0,700;1,400;1,600&#038;family=Cormorant+Garamond:ital,wght@0,300;0,400;0,600;1,300;1,400&#038;display=swap\" rel=\"stylesheet\"\/>\n<style>\n.team-wrap {\n  --gold: #B8882A;\n  --blue: #1C2B3A;\n  --parchment: #FAF7F2;\n  --parchment-mid: #F0EBE0;\n  --charcoal: #2C2C2C;\n  --gray: #6B6560;\n  --border: #DDD5C4;\n  --shadow: rgba(28,43,58,0.07);\n  --shadow-h: rgba(28,43,58,0.16);\n  background: var(--parchment) !important;\n  color: var(--charcoal) !important;\n  font-family: 'Lora', Georgia, serif !important;\n  font-size: 18px !important;\n  line-height: 1.78 !important;\n  max-width: 100%;\n  margin: 0 auto !important;\n  padding: 56px 40px 80px !important;\n  box-sizing: border-box;\n}\n.team-wrap *, .team-wrap *::before, .team-wrap *::after { box-sizing: border-box; }\n\/* HEADER *\/\n.team-header {\n  text-align: center;\n  margin-bottom: 56px;\n  padding-bottom: 48px;\n  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border);\n  position: relative;\n  max-width: 800px;\n  margin-left: auto;\n  margin-right: auto;\n}\n.team-header::after {\n  content: '';\n  display: block;\n  width: 56px; height: 2px;\n  background: var(--gold);\n  position: absolute;\n  bottom: -1px; left: 50%;\n  transform: translateX(-50%);\n}\n.team-overline {\n  font-size: 12px !important;\n  letter-spacing: 0.22em;\n  text-transform: uppercase;\n  color: var(--gold) !important;\n  margin-bottom: 16px;\n  display: block;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n}\n.team-header h1 {\n  font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif !important;\n  font-size: 52px !important;\n  font-weight: 600 !important;\n  color: var(--blue) !important;\n  line-height: 1.15 !important;\n  margin: 0 0 16px 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  background: none !important;\n}\n.team-header-sub {\n  font-size: 19px !important;\n  font-style: italic !important;\n  color: var(--gray) !important;\n  max-width: 600px;\n  margin: 0 auto !important;\n  display: block;\n  line-height: 1.6 !important;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n}\n\/* GROUP PHOTO *\/\n.team-group-photo {\n  max-width: 820px;\n  margin: 0 auto 72px;\n  border-radius: 6px;\n  overflow: hidden;\n  box-shadow: 0 4px 24px var(--shadow-h);\n}\n.team-group-photo img {\n  width: 100%;\n  display: block;\n  object-fit: cover;\n}\n.team-group-caption {\n  background: var(--blue) !important;\n  padding: 14px 24px;\n  font-size: 13px !important;\n  color: #aaaaaa !important;\n  font-style: italic !important;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n  text-align: center;\n}\n\/* SECTION HEADING *\/\n.team-section-heading {\n  max-width: 820px;\n  margin: 0 auto 40px;\n  padding-bottom: 16px;\n  border-bottom: 2px solid var(--border);\n  position: relative;\n}\n.team-section-heading::after {\n  content: '';\n  position: absolute;\n  bottom: -2px; left: 0;\n  width: 48px; height: 2px;\n  background: var(--gold);\n}\n.team-section-label {\n  font-size: 11px !important;\n  letter-spacing: 0.22em;\n  text-transform: uppercase;\n  color: var(--gold) !important;\n  margin-bottom: 6px;\n  display: block;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n}\n.team-section-heading h2 {\n  font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif !important;\n  font-size: 32px !important;\n  font-weight: 600 !important;\n  color: var(--blue) !important;\n  margin: 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  background: none !important;\n  line-height: 1.2 !important;\n}\n\/* PERSON BLOCK *\/\n.team-person {\n  max-width: 820px;\n  margin: 0 auto 64px;\n  padding-bottom: 64px;\n  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border);\n}\n.team-person:last-of-type {\n  border-bottom: none;\n  margin-bottom: 0;\n  padding-bottom: 0;\n}\n\/* Person header with photo *\/\n.team-person-header {\n  display: grid;\n  grid-template-columns: 220px 1fr;\n  gap: 40px;\n  margin-bottom: 28px;\n  align-items: start;\n}\n.team-person-photo {\n  width: 100%;\n  aspect-ratio: 3\/4;\n  object-fit: cover;\n  border-radius: 4px;\n  box-shadow: 0 4px 20px var(--shadow-h);\n  display: block;\n}\n.team-person-info { padding-top: 8px; }\n.team-person-role {\n  font-size: 11px !important;\n  letter-spacing: 0.2em;\n  text-transform: uppercase;\n  color: var(--gold) !important;\n  margin-bottom: 8px;\n  display: block;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n}\n.team-person-name {\n  font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif !important;\n  font-size: 36px !important;\n  font-weight: 600 !important;\n  color: var(--blue) !important;\n  line-height: 1.1 !important;\n  margin: 0 0 6px 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  background: none !important;\n}\n.team-person-title {\n  font-size: 15px !important;\n  font-style: italic !important;\n  color: var(--gold) !important;\n  margin-bottom: 20px !important;\n  display: block;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n}\n.team-person-divider {\n  width: 40px; height: 1px;\n  background: var(--gold);\n  margin-bottom: 20px;\n}\n.team-person-bio p {\n  font-size: 16px !important;\n  color: var(--gray) !important;\n  line-height: 1.85 !important;\n  margin-bottom: 14px !important;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n  background: none !important;\n}\n.team-person-bio p:last-child { margin-bottom: 0 !important; }\n.team-person-bio strong { color: var(--blue) !important; font-weight: 600 !important; }\n.team-person-bio em { font-style: italic !important; color: var(--charcoal) !important; }\n.team-person-bio a {\n  color: var(--gold) !important;\n  text-decoration: none !important;\n  border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;\n  transition: border-color 0.2s;\n}\n.team-person-bio a:hover { border-bottom-color: var(--gold); }\n\/* Links row *\/\n.team-links {\n  display: flex;\n  flex-wrap: wrap;\n  gap: 10px;\n  margin-top: 20px;\n}\n.team-link {\n  display: inline-block;\n  padding: 8px 18px;\n  font-size: 13px !important;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n  font-weight: 600 !important;\n  letter-spacing: 0.06em;\n  color: var(--blue) !important;\n  border: 1px solid var(--border) !important;\n  border-radius: 3px;\n  text-decoration: none !important;\n  transition: background 0.25s, border-color 0.25s, color 0.25s;\n  background: #fff !important;\n}\n.team-link:hover {\n  background: var(--gold) !important;\n  border-color: var(--gold) !important;\n  color: #fff !important;\n  text-decoration: none !important;\n}\n\/* Music section *\/\n.team-music {\n  margin-top: 28px;\n  padding: 24px 28px;\n  background: var(--parchment-mid) !important;\n  border-left: 3px solid var(--gold);\n  border-radius: 0 4px 4px 0;\n}\n.team-music-label {\n  font-size: 11px !important;\n  letter-spacing: 0.18em;\n  text-transform: uppercase;\n  color: var(--gold) !important;\n  margin-bottom: 12px;\n  display: block;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n}\n.team-music p {\n  font-size: 15px !important;\n  color: var(--gray) !important;\n  line-height: 1.75 !important;\n  margin-bottom: 16px !important;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n  background: none !important;\n}\n.team-music-albums {\n  display: flex;\n  gap: 16px;\n  flex-wrap: wrap;\n  margin-bottom: 16px;\n}\n.team-music-album {\n  display: flex;\n  flex-direction: column;\n  align-items: center;\n  gap: 6px;\n  text-decoration: none !important;\n  transition: transform 0.2s;\n}\n.team-music-album:hover { transform: translateY(-3px); }\n.team-music-album img {\n  width: 90px;\n  height: 90px;\n  object-fit: cover;\n  border-radius: 3px;\n  box-shadow: 0 3px 12px var(--shadow-h);\n  display: block;\n}\n.team-music-album span {\n  font-size: 12px !important;\n  color: var(--gray) !important;\n  font-style: italic !important;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n  text-align: center;\n}\n\/* Extra photos *\/\n.team-photos {\n  display: grid;\n  grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;\n  gap: 16px;\n  margin-top: 28px;\n}\n.team-photo-item img {\n  width: 100%;\n  border-radius: 4px;\n  display: block;\n  object-fit: cover;\n  aspect-ratio: 4\/3;\n  box-shadow: 0 2px 12px var(--shadow);\n}\n.team-photo-caption {\n  font-size: 13px !important;\n  color: var(--gray) !important;\n  font-style: italic !important;\n  margin-top: 6px !important;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n  display: block;\n  background: none !important;\n}\n\/* Memorial box *\/\n.team-memorial {\n  background: var(--blue) !important;\n  border-radius: 6px;\n  padding: 32px 36px;\n  margin-top: 28px;\n  text-align: center;\n}\n.team-memorial p {\n  font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif !important;\n  font-size: 20px !important;\n  font-style: italic !important;\n  color: #F5F0E8 !important;\n  line-height: 1.6 !important;\n  margin-bottom: 0 !important;\n  background: none !important;\n}\n.team-memorial span {\n  display: block;\n  margin-top: 12px;\n  font-size: 13px !important;\n  letter-spacing: 0.14em;\n  text-transform: uppercase;\n  color: var(--gold) !important;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n}\n\/* Tribute blocks (photo + text) *\/\n.team-tribute {\n  display: grid;\n  grid-template-columns: 160px 1fr;\n  gap: 28px;\n  background: var(--parchment-mid) !important;\n  border-left: 3px solid var(--gold);\n  border-radius: 0 6px 6px 0;\n  padding: 28px 32px;\n  margin-top: 24px;\n}\n.team-tribute-photo {\n  width: 100%;\n  aspect-ratio: 3\/4;\n  object-fit: cover;\n  border-radius: 4px;\n  box-shadow: 0 3px 14px var(--shadow-h);\n  display: block;\n}\n.team-tribute-label {\n  font-size: 11px !important;\n  letter-spacing: 0.18em;\n  text-transform: uppercase;\n  color: var(--gold) !important;\n  margin-bottom: 12px;\n  display: block;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n}\n.team-tribute-body p {\n  font-size: 15px !important;\n  color: var(--gray) !important;\n  line-height: 1.8 !important;\n  margin-bottom: 14px !important;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n  background: none !important;\n}\n.team-tribute-body p:last-child { margin-bottom: 0 !important; }\n.team-tribute-body em { font-style: italic !important; color: var(--charcoal) !important; }\n.team-tribute-signature {\n  display: block;\n  margin-top: 16px;\n  font-size: 13px !important;\n  color: var(--blue) !important;\n  font-weight: 600 !important;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n  letter-spacing: 0.03em;\n}\n\/* CTA *\/\n.team-cta {\n  max-width: 680px;\n  margin: 64px auto 0;\n  text-align: center;\n  padding: 52px 32px 48px;\n  border-top: 1px solid var(--border);\n  position: relative;\n}\n.team-cta::before {\n  content: '';\n  display: block;\n  width: 56px; height: 2px;\n  background: var(--gold);\n  position: absolute;\n  top: -1px; left: 50%;\n  transform: translateX(-50%);\n}\n.team-cta h2 {\n  font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif !important;\n  font-size: 30px !important;\n  font-weight: 600 !important;\n  color: var(--blue) !important;\n  margin: 0 0 14px 0 !important;\n  padding: 0 !important;\n  background: none !important;\n}\n.team-cta p {\n  font-size: 17px !important;\n  color: var(--gray) !important;\n  line-height: 1.7 !important;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n  background: none !important;\n  margin-bottom: 0 !important;\n}\n.team-btn {\n  display: inline-block;\n  margin-top: 28px;\n  padding: 16px 48px;\n  font-family: 'Lora', serif !important;\n  font-size: 16px !important;\n  font-weight: 600 !important;\n  letter-spacing: 0.06em;\n  color: #FFFFFF !important;\n  background: var(--blue) !important;\n  border: 2px solid var(--blue) !important;\n  border-radius: 3px;\n  text-decoration: none !important;\n  transition: background 0.3s, border-color 0.3s;\n}\n.team-btn:hover {\n  background: var(--gold) !important;\n  border-color: var(--gold) !important;\n  color: #FFFFFF !important;\n}\n\/* MOBILE *\/\n@media (max-width: 680px) {\n  .team-wrap { padding: 36px 16px 60px !important; }\n  .team-header h1 { font-size: 36px !important; }\n  .team-person-header { grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: 24px; }\n  .team-person-photo { aspect-ratio: 4\/3; max-height: 280px; width: 100%; }\n  .team-person-name { font-size: 28px !important; }\n  .team-photos { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }\n  .team-music-albums { gap: 12px; }\n  .team-music-album img { width: 80px; height: 80px; }\n  .team-tribute { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }\n}\n<\/style>\n  <!-- HEADER -->\n    Ka-Ter Translation Project\n    <h1>Our Team<\/h1>\n    The scholars, translators and directors who make this work possible\n  <!-- GROUP PHOTO -->\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/oliver-jamyang-2025.jpeg\" alt=\"Oliver Leick and Jamyang Oliphant, 2025\"\/>\n    Oliver Leick and Jamyang Oliphant, 2025\n  <!-- SECTION: DIRECTION -->\n    Leadership\n    <h2>Direction &#038; Organisation<\/h2>\n  <!-- OLIVER LEICK -->\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/oliver-0925.jpg\" alt=\"Oliver Leick\"\/>\n        Director, Shang Shung Institute Austria\n        <h3>Oliver Leick<\/h3>\n        Founder &#038; Director of the Ka-Ter Translation Project\n          <p>Oliver Leick was born in 1955 and lives with his family in East-Styria, Austria. For nearly forty years he worked as a schoolteacher for English and Sports in various Austrian schools.<\/p>\n          <p>In 1977 he met his Tibetan teacher Ch\u00f6gyal Namkhai Norbu and has followed him ever since, studying and practising under his guidance for more than 45 years. Since January 1st, 2000, Oliver has served as Director of the Shang Shung Institute Austria and has been responsible for financing the Ka-Ter Translation Project ever since.<\/p>\n          <p>He is also a member of the Board of Directors of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shangshungpublications.com\" target=\"_blank\">Shang Shung Publications<\/a>. In 2010 he became an authorized teacher of the worldwide Dzogchen Community and has given nearly 200 retreats all over the world.<\/p>\n          <p>Oliver has translated several texts and books from English into German and has compiled two books: <em>Yantra Yoga, the Yoga of Movements<\/em> (Edition Tsaparang 1988, out of print) and <em>The Story Book<\/em> (Shang Shung Publications 2024).<\/p>\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/oliver-adriano-0620.jpg\" alt=\"Oliver Leick and Adriano Clemente\"\/>\n        Oliver Leick and Adriano Clemente, 2020\n  <!-- JAMYANG OLIPHANT -->\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Jamyang.jpeg\" alt=\"Jamyang Oliphant\"\/>\n        Director, Shang Shung Institute UK\n        <h3>Jamyang Oliphant, PhD<\/h3>\n        Research &#038; Public Events\n          <p>Jamyang Oliphant studied Tibetan religions, language, and culture at the University of Oxford, where his doctoral research examined rejuvenating practices within Tibetan medicine. He has headed and contributed to a range of research projects dedicated to Tibetan cultural heritage, with a particular focus on the documentation, study, and transmission of religious, medical, and historical traditions of the Himalayan world.<\/p>\n          <p>Besides helping fundraise and schedule activities for the Ka-Ter Translation Project, he is the Director of the Shang Shung Institute UK, where he coordinates lectures, seminars, and conferences, oversees research initiatives and publications, and organises travel groups to the Himalayas.<\/p>\n          <p>He is co-editor of <em>Sharro: Festschrift for Ch\u00f6gyal Namkhai Norbu<\/em> and <em>About Padmasambhava: Historical Narratives and Later Transformations of Guru Rinpoche<\/em>.<\/p>\n  <!-- SECTION: TRANSLATORS -->\n    Translators\n    <h2>The Translators<\/h2>\n  <!-- ADRIANO CLEMENTE -->\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/adriano-2020.jpg\" alt=\"Adriano Clemente\"\/>\n        Main Translator\n        <h3>Adriano Clemente<\/h3>\n        Ka-Ter Translation Project &#038; Complete Works of Ch\u00f6gyal Namkhai Norbu\n          <p>Adriano met <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merigar.it\/en\/our-masters\/chogyal-namkhai-norbu\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ch\u00f6gyal Namkhai Norbu<\/a> in 1975 and received his first Dzogchen teachings in 1976 in Naples. That same year he joined the University of Oriental Studies in Naples, graduating in 1983 with a thesis on the Dzogchen B\u00f6npo text <em>Dran pa gser gdams<\/em> by gShen sras lha rje (13th century).<\/p>\n          <p>He began working on translations of Tibetan texts by Ch\u00f6gyal Namkhai Norbu, including <em>Drung, Deu and B\u00f6n<\/em> &#8211; for which he conducted extensive research in the ancient B\u00f6n tradition &#8211; and <em>Yantra Yoga: The Tibetan Yoga of Movement<\/em>. He compiled and edited <em>Dzogchen: The Self-Perfected State<\/em>, and is the author, together with Ch\u00f6gyal Namkhai Norbu, of <em>The Supreme Source<\/em>, a pioneering work on the Dzogchen Semde tradition focusing on the <em>Kun byed rgyal po<\/em> tantra.<\/p>\n          <p>He has translated the books of the Longsal cycle of teachings and of the Santi Maha Sangha training. <strong>Since 2003, Adriano Clemente has worked full time for the Ka-Ter Translation Project.<\/strong><\/p>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/akashmaniadrianoclemente\/\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adrianoclemente.net\/bio\" target=\"_blank\">Website<\/a>\n    <!-- Music section -->\n      Also a Musician\n      <p>Adriano Clemente is also a gifted musician &#8211; a composer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has published three albums.<\/p>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=d1DAfU9B7xY\" target=\"_blank\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AC-mingus-suite.jpeg\" alt=\"The Mingus Suite\"\/>\n          The Mingus Suite\n        <\/a>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=VCDrVBwAifo\" target=\"_blank\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AC-havana-blue.jpeg\" alt=\"Havana Blue\"\/>\n          Havana Blue\n        <\/a>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=S3WwpOwr7c0\" target=\"_blank\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AC-cuban-fires.jpeg\" alt=\"Cuban Fires\"\/>\n          Cuban Fires\n        <\/a>\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/elio-adriano-0820.jpg\" alt=\"Elio Guarisco and Adriano Clemente\"\/>\n        Adriano Clemente and Elio Guarisco, August 2020\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/elio-adriano-jim6.jpg\" alt=\"Elio, Adriano and Jim Valby\"\/>\n        Jim Valby, Adriano Clemente and Elio Guarisco during the translation of the Mejung Tantra, 2006\n  <!-- ELIO GUARISCO -->\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Elio-20130330.jpeg\" alt=\"Elio Guarisco\"\/>\n        Main Translator 2003-2020\n        <h3>Elio Guarisco<\/h3>\n        In memoriam \u00b7 5 August 1954 &#8211; 27 November 2020\n          <p>Elio was born in Varese, Italy, on 5 August 1954 and grew up in Como. He studied Arts, receiving a Master of Arts degree, before travelling to India to study Buddhism. On his return he moved to Switzerland, where for ten years he learned Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy under one of the Dalai Lama&#8217;s philosophical advisers.<\/p>\n          <p>Invited by the late Kalu Rinpoche, Elio spent nearly twenty years in India working on the large <em>Encyclopedia on Indo-Tibetan Knowledge<\/em> (<em>shes bya kun khyab<\/em>) authored by Kongtrul the Great, published by Snow Lion Publications. He joined the Dzogchen Community in 1986, when he received teachings from Ch\u00f6gyal Namkhai Norbu for the first time, and was one of the founding members of the Shang Shung Institute in Italy.<\/p>\n          <p>Elio completed the Santi Maha Sangha training and became an authorized teacher at Base Level, First Level, and Second Level. <strong>Since 2003 he worked actively for the Ka-Ter Translation Project.<\/strong> On 27 November 2020, Elio passed away due to COVID-19.<\/p>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Elio-bio1-1220.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Full Biography (PDF)<\/a>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Elio-Guarisco-186058318201173\/\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TnG7D81Z20s\" target=\"_blank\">Interview 2013 (YouTube)<\/a>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/493066653\" target=\"_blank\">Talk on Tibetan Book of the Dead<\/a>\n      <p>&#8220;Thank you Elio for all your tireless work for the Dzogchen Community.&#8221;<\/p>\n      Ka-Ter Translation Project\n  <!-- JIM VALBY -->\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/jim3.jpg\" alt=\"Jim Valby\"\/>\n        Collaborating Translator, 2003-2026\n        <h3>Jim Valby<\/h3>\n        In memoriam \u00b7 3 September 1946 &#8211; 22 June 2026\n          <p>Jim Valby was born in Rochester, New York, on 3 September 1946. He first studied Physics at Middlebury College before pursuing graduate studies in Tibetan Buddhism under Professor Herbert V. Guenther at the University of Saskatchewan, earning Masters and Doctorate degrees with research focused on the great Dzogchen masters Shrisingha and Vimalamitra. Before dedicating himself fully to Buddhist studies, Jim also worked as an engineer, computer programmer, teacher, and researcher, bringing to all his work the same precision, curiosity, and tireless commitment that later became the hallmark of his translations.<\/p>\n          <p>In 1982 Jim met his root master, Ch\u00f6gyal Namkhai Norbu, at his first retreat, and from that moment dedicated his life to the Dharma. Since 1989 he lived in the Tsegyalgar area, translating Tibetan texts, preparing transcripts of Rinpoche&#8217;s retreats, and supporting countless projects of the Dzogchen Community. As an authorized Santi Maha Sangha instructor at Base, First, and Second Levels, he travelled extensively, sharing the teachings with clarity, humility, generosity, and joy.<\/p>\n          <p><strong>From 2003, Jim Valby was one of the most valued collaborators of the Ka-Ter Translation Project<\/strong>, generously offering his profound knowledge of Tibetan language and Dzogchen literature to the translation of Ch\u00f6gyal Namkhai Norbu&#8217;s works. His meticulous scholarship and unwavering commitment helped preserve the precision and authenticity of these teachings for present and future generations.<\/p>\n          <p>Jim passed away on 22 June 2026. His legacy lives on in the many books he helped translate, the students he guided, and the countless practitioners who will continue to benefit from his life&#8217;s work for generations to come.<\/p>\n        <!-- TRIBUTE: ADRIANO CLEMENTE -->\n          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/elio-adriano-jim6.jpg\" alt=\"Adriano Clemente with Jim Valby\"\/>\n            A Tribute by Adriano Clemente\n            <p>I first met Jim Valby in October 1995, during the Santi MahaSangha First Level examinations and Second Level training. He came into the examination room where Rinpoche and I were sitting. When I asked him about his meditation, he replied that his meditation was simply sitting down and typing at the computer. &#8220;But that is actually the conduct, rather than the meditation,&#8221; I replied. He greatly appreciated that remark, and it marked the beginning of a Vajra friendship that would last for decades.<\/p>\n            <p>Jim was truly a remarkable person. He possessed an exceptionally open heart and an attitude of genuine kindness toward everyone. I never once heard him speak a single negative word about any of our Vajra brothers or sisters. On the contrary, he was always ready to help those in need, often with his own personal resources and without expecting anything in return.<\/p>\n            <p>One of the most important collaborations Jim shared with Elio and me was the translation of <em>The Marvelous Primordial State<\/em>, a profound and often highly cryptic Dzogchen Semde text that Rinpoche had strongly encouraged us to translate. Jim painstakingly typed the different Tibetan editions and prepared extensive comparative materials that greatly facilitated our work. He carried out this demanding task with extraordinary humility, patience, and a genuine spirit of collaboration, completely free from pride or self-importance.<\/p>\n            <p>Jim was a pure soul in a world too often marked by competition, envy, and jealousy. His kindness, generosity, and unwavering dedication to preserving and transmitting Rinpoche&#8217;s teachings left an enduring legacy. We should all feel deeply grateful for everything he gave to the Dzogchen Community.<\/p>\n            Adriano Clemente\n        <!-- TRIBUTE: OLIVER LEICK -->\n          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/oliver.jpg\" alt=\"Oliver Leick\"\/>\n            A Tribute by Oliver Leick\n            <p>Dearest Brother Jim!<\/p>\n            <p><em>Oh Jim,<br \/>you were such a gift<br \/>to all of us.<\/em><\/p>\n            <p>You expressed your loving kindness,<br \/>your heartfelt compassion,<br \/>and your natural joy and excitement<br \/>in all your words and every movement of your body.<\/p>\n            <p><em>Oh Jim,<br \/>you were such a gift<br \/>to all of us.<\/em><\/p>\n            <p>You taught in such a captivating and inspiring way,<br \/>telling fascinating, mind-expanding, and humorous stories<br \/>through which you supported all your students<br \/>while revealing your wisdom.<\/p>\n            <p><em>Oh Jim,<br \/>you were such a gift<br \/>to all of us.<\/em><\/p>\n            <p>You dedicated your entire life to translation,<br \/>making the unique Tibetan texts of wisdom available to everyone.<\/p>\n            <p>You were such an important and invaluable part of the Ka-Ter Translation Project.<\/p>\n            <p><em>Oh Jim,<br \/>you were such a gift<br \/>to all of us.<\/em><\/p>\n            <p>You not only loved to cruise on your motorbike along the highways,<br \/>either alone or with your beloved Catharina,<br \/>you also so enjoyed singing the Song of the Vajra in your Jacuzzi<br \/>and spending time in your garden with the beavers and the deer.<\/p>\n            <p><em>Oh Jim,<br \/>you were such a gift<br \/>to all of us.<\/em><\/p>\n            <p>Thank you for all the unforgettable moments we shared together,<br \/>thank you for all your clarifications whenever I had doubts about so many topics,<br \/>thank you for all your heartwarming birthday emails,<br \/>thank you for having been with us,<br \/>thank you for everything.<\/p>\n            Oliver Leick, July 2026\n  <!-- CTA -->\n    <h2>Support Our Translator and Editors<\/h2>\n    <p>The work of translation requires years of dedicated scholarship and full-time commitment. Your support helps sustain this unique project.<\/p>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/donate.stripe.com\/fZu3cv9iJ5KC7H27KIco009\">Support Ka-Ter &#8211; Donate<\/a>\n\t<!-- COLONNA 1: Logo + descrizione + email -->\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/KA-TER-LOGO.png\"\/>\n  <h3>\n    Ka-Ter<br \/>Translation Project\n  <\/h3>\n  \n    Translating the wisdom of Ch\u00f6gyal Namkhai Norbu since 2002.\n  \n  <a href=\"mailto:info@ka-ter.org\">\n    \u2709 info@ka-ter.org\n  <\/a>\n  <p>Quick Links<\/p>\n  <ul>\n    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\">Home<\/a><\/li>\n    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/index.php\/publications\/ka-ter-books-forthcoming\/\">Translation Project<\/a><\/li>\n    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/index.php\/publications\/ka-ter-books-published\/\">Publications<\/a><\/li>\n    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/index.php\/team\/\">Our Team<\/a><\/li>\n    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/index.php\/donations\/\">Donate \u2197<\/a><\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\t<!-- COLONNA 3: Citazione + contatti -->\n  \n    The Project\n  \n    \n      &#8220;The purpose of the Ka-Ter Translation Project is to make available the texts necessary for the practice and study of Dzogchen, in English.&#8221;\n    \n    \n      &#8211; Elio Guarisco\n    \n  \n    <a href=\"mailto:info@ka-ter.org\">info@ka-ter.org<\/a>\n  \n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ka-Ter Translation Project Our Team The scholars, translators and directors who make this work possible Oliver Leick and Jamyang Oliphant, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-790","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=790"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/790\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":991,"href":"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/790\/revisions\/991"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ka-ter.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}