Urgyen Samten Ling - legit?

[Totoro]

Can someone please tell me if this place and Lama is legit?

http://www.urgyensamtenling.org/index.html The place is run by a Western married Lama Jerry Gardner. I'm a bit confused as he is 'ordained as a Lama', appears to wear robes but has a wife. Both husband and wife wore a zen AND a chogyu (!!!) during the puja. I can understand ngakpa robes but chogyu?? Isn't that reserved for monks and nuns only? While some other members of the Sangha wore an assortment of Shamtabs and other Ngakpa garb I suppose.

Do you know know this guy? Is he legit?

Also if you know of any good centres around or near Salt Lake City please let me know. Thank you!

[Silent Bob]

If this couple is connected to the lineage of Tulku Urgyen, the center is well worth a visit, at the very least.

[tamm]

I've lurked a lot but had to respond to this! I live south of here (abt an hr away) and I have really enjoyed my few visits. I wanted to attend the classes but I simply don't have the time and driving in the snow scares me...

[pemachophel]

Jerry is one of my bet and oldest friends. (He was my best man at my wedding.) We both studied with Sonam Kazi back in the 70s. Jerry went on to study with Tulku Urgyen, Chatral Rinpoche, Lama Dawa (not Lama Dawa Choddak but Chatral Rinpoche's disciple Lama Dawa), Khenpo Konchog Monlam, and others. It was Khenpo Konchog Monlam who authorized Jerry as a Lama and who gave the name Urgyen Samten Ling. Perhaps the word "ordained" is not the right word. Jerry is a married ngakpa. He is not a getshul/gelong. Jerry's center is under the on-going supervision of Khenpo Konchog Monlam, and Khenpo and other of His Lamas visit the Salt Center on a regular basis. I attended a ceremony there last summer for the anniversary of the passing of Mr. Kazi and everything seemed on the up and up to me. The students were very friendly and seemed very sincere. Jerry has always liked all the Vajrayana "bells and whistles." So the center is very traditional in terms of decorations and pujas as are the students' Dharma robes. Many of the students have taken four or all five of the upasaka/genyen vows. Those who have taken those vows wear different colored belts (one color for those with four vows and another color for those with all five vows). Personally, I was impressed by the number of students who had taken such vows. Jerry's wife is also a very sincere and diligent practitioner.

For what it's worth, I would recommend this center for anyone interested in Nyingma Buddhism in the Salt Lake area. In my book, Jerry's OK.