Visiting Teacher Biographies in Alphabetical Order
Choeje Ayang Rinpoche
was born into a nomadic family in eastern Tibet and was recognized as an incarnation of Terton Choegyal Dorje by a delegation of high lamas. He entered the monastic life and started his Buddhist studies at the early age of five. Rinpoche completed his general studies and practices on all levels of tantric Buddhist practices, receiving many teachings, empowerments and oral transmission blessings. Rinpoche received his first Phowa teaching in the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism from Khenpo Tsense Sangpo. He received Drikung Phowa teachings from the heads of the lineage, H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Kunsang Trinlay Lhundrup, H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Choekyi Nangwa in 1956 at the Monkey Year Phowa Chenmo in Tibet. After this, he went on pilgrimage to many of the holy places of Guru Rinpoche and did a long Phowa retreat at Phulung in South Tibet. Rinpoche left Tibet with his family in 1959 when he was 17.
Rinpoche established Thupten Sherdrup Jangchub Ling monastery in Bylakuppe, South India, where he was responsible for hundreds of Tibetan refugee monks, nuns and lay people. He is currently overseeing renovation of his monastery in Tibet and construction of a Phowa teaching center in Bodh Gaya and a retreat center in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Rinpoche was bestowed the title of 'Choje' (Dharma Master/ Regent) according to the Drikung Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. He has a warm and compassionate manner and teaches with clarity and wisdom. The core of Rinpoche’s vision is compassionate activity undertaken from pure motivation and supported by strong practice. These three themes: compassionate activity, pure motivation and strong practice are woven through all of Rinpoche’s activities and teachings.
His Eminence Ayang Rinpoche is the Founder/Chairman of Amitabha Foundation worldwide and Drikung Charitable Society in India
Khenpo Choephel Rinpoché
received monastic ordaination from Vajradhara Pachung Rinpoché at a young age at Drikung Thil monastery in Tibet- the head-monastery of the Drikung Kagyu lineage. While at Drikung Thil, Khenpo received many teachings and instructions first from Pachung Rinpoché and later from Pachung Rinpoché's successor, Gelong Rinpoché (Vajradhara Tenzin Nyima). As well as receiving extensive teachings on Mahamudra from these two great masters, Khenpo is also a master in the ritual traditions of Drikung Thil. In addition, Khenpo received training in debate and philosophy at Drepung monastery in Tibet. Before he left Drikung Thil for Nepal, Khenpo Rinpoché served as Um Dze (chant-master), a high position of knowledge and respect. In 2007, he was appointed "Khenpo" by the Drikung Thil monastery. Gentle and unassuming, Khenpo Choephel Rinpoché's presence and teachings are incisive, direct, kind, and heart-felt.
His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche
is a Drikung Kagyu lama who was known in the thirteenth century as the Siddha Gar Chodingpa, a heart disciple of Kyobpa Jigten Sumgon, founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. In ancient India, he had incarnated as Mahasiddha Aryadeva, the lotus-born disciple of the great Nagarjuna. In the seventh century, he was known as Lonpo Gar, the minister of the Tibetan Dharma King Songsten Gampo.
Garchen Rinpoche was recognized and enthroned in eastern Tibet by the former Drikung Kyabgon Zhiwe Lodro. When he was seven, he was brought to Lho Miyal Monastery, which he administered from the age of eleven. Studying and practicing under the direction of the Siddha Chime Dorje, Garchen Rinpoche received vast and profound instructions on the preliminary practices (ngondro), the fivefold practice of Mahamudra and the six yogas of Naropa.
Then, at the age of 22, after completing a two and a half year retreat, he was imprisoned for 20 years during the political turmoil of China's Cultural Revolution. While in the labor camp, he received meditation instruction from his root lama, the Nyingma master Khenpo Munsel. Enduring hardship and practicing secretly, Garchen Rinpoche attained realization of the lama's wisdom mind. Since his release from prison in 1979, Garchen Rinpoche has made great effort to rebuild the Drikung Kagyu monasteries, reestablish the Buddhist teachings, and build two boarding schools for local children in eastern Tibet. Rinpoche is the founder and spiritual director of the Garchen Buddhist Institute in Chino Valley, Arizona.
Garchen Rinpoche is known for his vast realization, as well as for his great kindness.
Khenpo Nyima Gyaltsen Rinpoche
was born in 1976 in Sha, near Drikung in Central Tibet. At the age of four he learned to read due to the kindness and care of his father and grandmother. At age nine he entered the local village school and studied writing, math, and other subjects for four years. During this time, when Kyabje Ontrul Rinpoche came to Tibet, Khenpo offered his hair and took the refuge vow. In 1987 when he was eleven years old, he traveled to his homeland of Kham and entered the religious life at Lho Lungkar Ogmin Thubten Shedrub Ling where he studied ritual practices under the monastery's senior lamas Gongyam and Drugsing for six years. Then, in 1994, he went with Thubnying Rinpoche to Jangchub Ling in the Holy Land (India) where he took the novice monk vows from His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche. For two years he studied the Essence of the Mahayana Teachings and the Single Intention under Khenchen Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche as well as the ordinary subjects and the major scriptures with the Khenpos and teachers there. In the south of India Khenpo received the great empowerment of Kalachakra from His Holiness the Dalai Lama after which, according to the expressed wishes of both the Khenchen Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche and Thubnying Rinpoche, he went to Bihar to study the major scriptures for eight years. In 1998 he received full monk ordination from Mewa Khenchen Thubten Ozer Rinpoche. Since then he has received the oral transmission of the precious Kangyur of the Buddha from Choje Togden Rinpoche as well as the pig, snake, and monkey year teachings from Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche. At the beginning of 2002, H.H. Chetsang Rinpoche authorized and instructed him to teach at the Kagyu College at Jangchub Ling and in 2004 enthroned him as a Khenpo of the College. Then, in 2006, Khenpo returned to his own Lungkar Monastery to teach the monks and nuns of the monastic college, Jamyang Gatsel Ling, Gampopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation. From among the ordinary lamas and monks of his land he was enthroned as a Khenpo. Currently, Khenpo Nyima Gyaltsen Rinpoche resides at Jangchub Ling in India.
Acharya Yogi Lama Gursam Rinpoche
At the age of six, Lama Gursam entered Drikung Kagyu Monastery in Tso Pema, India, where he completed his basic education and studied Buddhist philosophy, practice, ritual and conduct. In 1981 he began his college education at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (University) in Sarnath, Varnasi, India. He earned his Bachelor's degree in 1988 in the Sanskrit, Hindi, Tibetan, and English languages and in Buddhist philosophy. Pursuing graduate study at the University, he was President of the student union, and served two years as a Kagyu Committee member. In 1990 he received his Master's degree in advanced Buddhist philosophy. Upon graduation he also received a special award from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
After graduation, Lama Gursam was requested by His Holiness Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche to come to the Drikung Kagyu Institute in Dehra Dun, India, at a critical time where there was a great lack of teachers and funding for education. There he served as a volunteer for five years, teaching Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy and history. He also held the posts of Instructor, Head of Examinations, and Assistant Director while serving as secretary to His Holiness Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, the head of the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. During this time, he also did a one-year meditation retreat and received Dzogchen teachings and empowerments from Khenchen Thupten Rinpoche and other lamas of the Nyingma lineage. He also studied with Dr. Pema Gyaltsen, a specialist in the Tibetan language.
In 1995, Lama Gursam was sent by His Holiness Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche to the United States, where he taught Buddhist philosophy for five years. Lama Gursam worked as a resident teacher in a Tibetan Meditation Center, also serving as director of North American Drikung Kagyu Center. Then Lama Gursam met His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche, whom he considers to be the second Milarepa. Under H.E. Garchen Rinpoche's guidance, together with the Venerable Traga Rinpoche, he became a yogi, and in 2002 he completed a traditional three-year retreat in the United States, practicing Mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa. After a nationwide teaching tour, he then traveled to India, Nepal and the border of Tibet, where he completed a six-month retreat in Milarepa's cave at Lapchi. Lama Gursam continues to return every year to India for teachings and retreats, and every year to the United States and Canada to reunite with friends and students for teachings. His current sanghas are located in Vermont, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, and Arizona, as well as Montreal and Sault Sainte Marie, Canada. Additionally, every 2-3 years, Lama Gursam leads a pilgrimage to Buddhist holy places in India and Nepal. In 2006, Lama Gursam founded The Bodhichitta Foundation, a U.S. non-profit organization officially recognized by His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche, head of the Drikung Kagyu lineage. The Bodhichitta Foundation benefits the West with teachings, a future center and retreat land, and the East, preserving ancient texts, Tibetan culture, education, women's rights, and health.
Ven. Khenpo Tenzin Nyima
was born in Tibet in 1973. At the age of 14, he met Ven. Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche, in whom he took refuge. He received the traditional hair cutting ceremony from Gyalpo Rinpoche, marking his transition to a monk. He went to Jangchubling, India where he furthered his education and was awarded the title of Khenpo (equivalent to Doctor of Buddhist Philosophy) from H.H. Drigung Kyabgon Trinley Lhundrub Rinpoche in 1998. Khenpo resides in New Jersey at the Gampopa Vajrayana Buddhist Center where he assists Gyalpo Rinpoche in his Dharma activities. Khenpo continues his practice of Tantryana, and receives transmissions, empowerments, and instructions in the Drikung Kagyu Lineage from Gyalpo Rinpoche.
Thupten Nyingpo Rinpoche's
incarnations can be traced back to the extraordinary Atsara Sale, who lived in 9th century Tibet. Atsara Sale, one of the heart sons of Guru Rinpoche, was renowned as a great practitioner of Vajrakilaya, and a consort of Yeshe Tsogyal. Their relationship has become the source of inspiration for students through the ages.
The first incarnation known as Thupten Nyingpo was the younger brother and close disciple of the great 19th century Drikung Treasure revealer Nuden Dorje. The first Thupten Nyingpo Rinpoche became a great siddha, highly accomplished in the practices of Chöd and Vajrakilaya. Students of the Drikung lineage should note that the present Thupten Nyingpo's previous incarnation was one of the root Drikung teachers of the present Garchen Rinpoche. At an empowerment that Garchen Rinpoche gave in 2004, he mentioned that the Lama whom he received this empowerment from, as well as all The 50 Empowerments of Lord Jigten Sumgon, was the previous Tulku Thubten Nyingpo. In this lifetime, His Eminence is Thubten Nyingpo’s Root Lama, and they are very close. Likewise, His Eminence told his students at a teaching in New York State in 2004, that Rinpoche’s students should make every effort to receive teachings from Tulku Thubten Nyingpo, that they should run- not walk to go and receive teachings from Thubten Nyingpo Rinpoche!!
Thubten Nyingpo’s teachers include H.H. Chetsang Rinpoche, H.E. Garchen Rinpoche, Ven. Ontul Rinpoche, Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche, and Drubwang Rinpoche. Rinpoche has studied and practiced in Tibet, at Jangchub Ling, and also at the Payul (Nyingma) Shedra in South India. His activities at his Monastery include creating a new Shedra (Scriptural College), as well as a school to care for and educate local children.
Following in the tradition of his previous incarnations, the present Thupten Nyinpo Rinpoche is also an accomplished Chod Master and Vajrakilaya practitioner.
Ven. Drikung Ontul Rinpoche's
previous incarnations are connected with the terton Nuden Dorje, a great discoverer of hidden teachings of the last century. Ontul Rinpoche’s incarnation was one of the twenty-five main disciples of Guru Padmasambhava. The present Ontül was born in Eastern Tibet (Kham) in the year 1950. At the age of nine, Ontul Rinpoche managed to escape Tibet. He wandered from place to place for almost fourteen years. In India, he met Drigung Khandro Neni Rinpoche, a highly realized female yogini who cared for him and introduced him to the great Nyingmapa teacher Ven. Khenpo Thubten from whom Ontül Rinpoche received Longchen Nyingthig Ngöndro. He received Mahamudra and Dzogchen teachings from H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, Khunu Lama Tenzin Gyaltsen, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, 3rd Kalu Rinpoche and others. In 1971, Ontül Rinpoche established the monastery Tso Pema which means the "Lotus Lake", and is one of the sacred places where Guru Padmasambhava demonstrated his miraculous powers. Today, Ontul Rinpoche travels the world teaching the Dharma and cares for the community at Tso Pema.
Ven. Traga Rinpoche
is an accomplished Dzogchen master, having received profound foundational and the most advanced teachings from some of the greatest living masters of Tibetan Buddhism -- including His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche, His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche, Khenchen Jigme Phuntsog and many others -- and completed many retreats.
From Garchen Rinpoche, Traga Rinpoche received teachings on all Drikung Kagyu texts on regular Dharma service and practice, the five-fold Mahamudra, the entire Dzogchen Yangzab teachings, and many profound pith instructions. He then did his Dzogchen Yangzab retreat at Lho Miyel Gon monastery.
In early 1984, Traga Rinpoche received full gelong ordination from the Nyingma master Khenpo Munsel, who gave him the detailed teachings on Dzogchen Cutting Through the Resistance to Primordial Purity. Khenpo Munsel gently looked at Traga Rinpoche and said, your karmic propensity is to practice Dzogchen. I am your karmic lama. If you can meditate, you have today found the way to liberation in one life. You will never find something like this even if you went to look for it with your horse's hooves encased in steel. Spend one year near me and meditate. For the next seven years, he did retreat near Khenpo Munsel, and practiced Cutting Through, Passing Over, and many other advanced practices.
In 1998, Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche -- determined to make Traga Rinpoche's vast knowledge and profound experiential understanding of the highest level of Dzogchen teachings accessible to as many students as possible -- enthroned him as Lopon Rinpoche (Precious Master), with lavish praise for his hard work and outstanding achievements. His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche selected Traga Rinpoche as the retreat master and resident lama at the Garchen Buddhist Institute, and asked his students to have full confidence in Traga Rinpoche, just as I have full confidence in him.
Khenpo Tsultrim Tenzin Rinpoche,
who teaches in fluent English, took his monk's vows at the age of fourteen. In 1987 he entered the Drikung Kagyu Institute at Jangchub Ling Monastery in Dehra Dun. An outstanding student, he excelled in all subjects and completed the nine-year program of study in only five years, while also teaching Buddhist philosophy. Enthroned as a Khenpo in 1998, he completed the traditional Ngondro and Chakrasamvara practices in retreat. Khenpo Tsultrim arrived at the Tibetan Meditation Center in Frederick, MD in April 2001. Since then, his warm, humorous, and relaxed teaching style has helped many progress on the spiritual path. We are grateful that he has accepted our invitation to teach in the Boston area!
Ven. Tsunma Rinzin Khandro
As a young woman, Tsunma studied chants, prayers, religious instruments and torma making. Ani Rinzin received transmissions and initiations of several Drikung teachings and she also received the commentary on the "Bodhisattva's Way of Life" from the late Khenpo Konchok Namgyal.
The Nyingma Rinpoche Tulku Pel-lu of Kham came to nunnery and gave an initiation and commentary on Longchen Nyingthik to select nuns, among whom was Ani Rinchen Khandro. After this transmission and teaching, the nuns stayed in retreat on this teaching for three years.
When Ani Rinzin came to Drikung Kagyu Nunnery at Dehra Dun she studied religious texts, Tibetan language and grammar. She and one other nun were sent by the head of the Drikung Lineage, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, to His Eminence Bokar Rinpoche to study the Six Yogas of Niguma. His Eminence Bokar Rinpoche was a great teacher of Shangpa Kagyu School and passed away a few years ago. The Six Yogas of Niguma consists of Dream Yoga practices, Clear Light practices, Phowa, the Bardo Teachings, Illusory Body teachings, and Tummo (Inner Heat). The lineage of this teaching was from the great Master Naropa, who gave this secret teaching to his consort Niguma. The ultimate purpose of these teachings and their practice, like other teachings, is two-fold: to know that the nature of all phenomena to be of empty self and of an illusory nature and the need of developing compassion for all sentient beings. Daily transmission and commentary was given on this special teaching, which took one month and fifteen days.
She then received major transmissions, commentaries and initiations of Drikung Kagyu teachings during the Dragon Year Teachings (2000) from His Holiness Drikung Chetsang Rinpoche, His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche, His Eminence Tongten Rinpoche and Venerable Khenchen Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche at Janchubling Monastery, Dehra Dun, India.
In the spring of 2001 Ani Rinzin went with another nun to Lapchi, Nepal to undertake three years and three months retreat on the Six Yogas of Naropa. The retreat master was Dondrup Palden Rinpoche, a highly skilled practitioner who had been in retreat for many years. He is currently the Retreat Master at Lapchi.
In early 2005 Ani Rinzin went into retreat on a second session of the Six Yogas of Naropa. In November 2006 Ani Rinzin attended the ten day teachings of the Seven Limb Prayer by His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche at Jangchubling Monastery.
Other Biographies
Nyatak Thubten Wangpo Rinpoche is the head of Katsel Monastery. An interesting account of Nyatak Rinpoche appeared in Dr. Hun Lye's Blog, Hun's Summer of 2007
"When he [Lobsang] got to the bus he related to us that he had gone to see Rinpoche [Nyatak Rinpoche] with a specific problem/question that he needed advice on. But when he finally found Rinpoche, Rinpoche was already surrounded by many pilgrims and thus he thought he had lost the chance. But he pushed his way through the crowd (it's acceptable here) to offer Rinpoche the katag and offering. When he finally got close to Rinpoche, Rinpoche turned around, looked at him and gave him the answer to his question! Lobsang was so shocked and awed that he just put the katag and offering on a table and ran off!
As the prayer says, Lama Khyenno or The Lama Knows!"
Khenchen Rinpoche Konchog Gyaltsen is the founder of the Drikung Meditation Center. He was born in Tsari, Tibet in the spring of 1946. After escaping from Tibet, he received his Acharya degree at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies at Varanasi, India a nine year program. He then studied for years with many highly realized masters of the different Tibetan Buddhist lineages. While completing the traditional three-year retreat he studied the Five-fold Profound Path of Mahamudra, the Six Yogis of Naropa and other teachings.
In 1982, he came to the USA and established the Tibetan Meditation Center in Maryland. Since then he has devoted himself to establishing and teaching at various centers, writing, and translating texts. In January of 2001, Rinpoche was honored with the title "Khenchen", which translates roughly as "Great Abbot". It is so rare to meet a Lama with extensive training in Buddhist Philosophy as well as profound meditation experience. In addition, Rinpoche's complete fluency in English makes him exceptionally capable of communicating the profound meaning of the teachings. |
