Born in 1948 in Italy, to American parents, he was raised in America and attended the University of Southern California.   He became interested in Buddhism when three of his friends became monks in the Chinese Tradition.  Jimi came to India in 1971-72, and in 1974 met Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa at Kopan Monastery, Nepal.  He was ordained by Lama Yeshe at Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala in 1980. 

A monk for 15 years, Jimi divided his time between Nalanda Monastery in France, and India. After disrobing, Jimi has lived permanently in Dharamsala, India. He began teaching in 1992 and has taught many times at Tushita Meditation Centre and elsewhere, over the years.