In the early 1970s, Li Gotami and Govinda were invited by American Buddhist scholars to live in the United States.
The couple initially lived in Sausalito, California and later settled in Mill Valley in the San Francisco Bay Area due to health reasons.
Li Gotami had Parkinson's disease, and Govinda suffered several strokes from 1975 onwards.
The couple were cared for by Alan Watts and Suzuki Roshi's San Francisco Zen Centre.
During an evening discussion on 14 January 1985, Govinda suddenly felt a sharp pain in his neck that traveled downwards.
He lay down on his right side and died laughing.
Li Gotami lived with her husband in Mill Valley until his death.
A few months after her husband's death, Li Gotami returned to India to live with her family.
She died in Pune, Maharashtra on 18 August 1988.

Many of her artistic works and fresco tracings from Tibet are held in the collection of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in Mumbai.
On 2 February 2008, the museum opened an exhibition called "Tibet through the eyes of Li Gotami".
The exhibition featured a selection of her photographs, sketches, and fresco tracings.
In the early 1970s, Li Gotami and Govinda were invited by American Buddhist scholars to live in the United States. The couple initially lived in Sausalito, California and later settled in Mill Valley in the San Francisco Bay Area due to health reasons. Li Gotami had Parkinson's disease, and Govinda suffered several strokes from 1975 onwards. The couple were cared for by Alan Watts and Suzuki Roshi's San Francisco Zen Centre. During an evening discussion on 14 January 1985, Govinda suddenly felt a sharp pain in his neck that traveled downwards. He lay down on his right side and died laughing. Li Gotami lived with her husband in Mill Valley until his death. A few months after her husband's death, Li Gotami returned to India to live with her family. She died in Pune, Maharashtra on 18 August 1988.
Many of her artistic works and fresco tracings from Tibet are held in the collection of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in Mumbai. On 2 February 2008, the museum opened an exhibition called "Tibet through the eyes of Li Gotami". The exhibition featured a selection of her photographs, sketches, and fresco tracings.
Li Gotami Govinda