Laurence Michael Dillon was born in 1915. He was the son of Robert Dillon and Laura Reese. He was originally born with the name Laura Maud, however, he transitioned later in life.
His mother passed away soon after his birth and he and his brother were sent to live with his father's spinster sisters. His father passed away in 1925.
Michael studied medicine and became a doctor in Dublin, Ireland and went on to become the world's first transgender person to undergo phalloplasty.
Michael fled to India where he spent time with Sangharakshita in Kalimpong, and with the Buddhist community in Sarnath. He finally came to his dreamed-of goal, the Rhizong monastery in Ladakh. He was ordained a monk of the Gelukpa order, taking the name Lobzang Jivaka, and spent his time studying Buddhism and writing. Despite the language barrier he felt at home there, but was forced to leave when his visa expired.
Two books by Michael were published in London in 1962: The Life of Milarepa, about a famous 11th century Tibetan yogi, and Imji Getsul, an account of life in a Buddhist monastery.
His health failed, and he died in hospital at Dalhousie, Punjab, on 15 May 1962, aged 47.
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