Mike has 55 years experience of meditation and 33 years ago was ordained as lama (teacher) of the Tibetan Kagyud lineage. At the request of his teacher (Lama Radha Chime Rinpoche), he heads the North American branch of his organization called Amrita Dzong.

As a lama, he is authorized to teach all Buddhist philosophies and meditations. However, he was specifically tasked by Lama  Chime to be the lineage-bearer of a uniquely Kagyud tradition called "Sutra Mahamudra" which teaches "direct seeing".