Dr. Berzin’s story begins in New Jersey, where he traded baseball cards for books on Buddhism – a choice that certainly puzzled the local kids at the time. Fast forward to Harvard, where he managed to convince the faculty that studying Chinese philosophy, Sanskrit, and Tibetan simultaneously was a perfectly normal and sensible thing to do.
And then, picture this: a young Alex, armed with his unquenchable thirst for knowledge, heads to India, only to find himself sharing a cozy mountain shack with a monk who doesn’t speak a word of English and a suspicious number of bugs who probably should have been paying their fair share of rent. For most people, that’s a vacation horror story. For Dr. Berzin, it was Tuesday.
Under the mentorship and tough love of the formidable Tsenshap Serkong Rinpoche, Dr. Berzin’s training took a turn for the unforgettable. Imagine, mid-lesson, Rinpoche pauses, locks eyes, and demands, “Repeat that word for word.” Seven years later, he’d still expect Alex to remember the answer. It’s no wonder Dr. Berzin’s memory turned into a superpower, one that would serve him well translating for His Holiness the Dalai Lama—in front of crowds big enough to make rock stars blush.
His achievements didn’t stop there. In fact, they read like the resume of someone who accidentally clicked “Select All”: translating sacred texts, organizing humanitarian projects (including Tibetan medical aid for Chernobyl victims—because why not?), and introducing Buddhist teachings to places so remote, even Google Maps needed directions. He demystified Buddhism wherever he went, proving that the depth of the Buddha’s teachings could resonate with a crowded university hall just as they did with folks in remote Himalayan villages.
In 2001, armed with 30,000 handwritten pages that would make any librarian faint, Dr. Berzin created the Berzin Archives. With the optimism only someone who’s been scolded by the wisest lamas could muster, and long before “content creator” was a thing, he made it all available online—for free! Today, Study Buddhism spans 37 languages, reaching millions of people, and proves that one man’s quest to avoid “tossing precious notes into the trash” has blossomed into a global library of wisdom. And throughout it all, Dr. Berzin has maintained his humor, humility, and the uncanny ability to find the only seat in a crowded room without a cushion!
So, on this grand milestone, we say: Happy 80th birthday, Dr. Berzin! You’re not just our teacher; you’re our friend, our guide, and, for many, our personal hero. Thank you for every word, every lesson, and every translation. Here’s to many more years of wisdom and compassion!
To celebrate Dr. Berzin’s 80th birthday and honor his lifetime of dedication to making Buddhism accessible to all, we invite you to contribute to Study Buddhism. Your support helps keep this invaluable resource free and available to millions worldwide. Support us