Khenchen Rinpoche, born in Tsari, Tibet in the spring of 1946, came to the West in the early 1980's to found the Tibetan Meditation Center in Washington, D.C.  The only Khenchen in the Drikung lineage, Rinpoche  completed a nine-year course of study at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Varanasi, India beginning in 1967. 

Even after completing this long and arduous course of study, Khenchen Rinpoche wanted only to deepen his knowledge and practice of the Dharma. With the same intensity that he brought to his earlier studies, Rinpoche sought out and received teachings and instructions from great Buddhist masters. One was the Venerable Khunu Lama Rinpoche, with whom Khenchen Rinpoche studied two works of Gampopa; The Jewel Ornament of Liberation and The Precious Garland of the Excellent Path. Rinpoche's studies with the Venerable Khunu Lama also included Mahamudra and many of the songs of Milarepa.

In all his studies, The Jewel Ornament of Liberation is one of the texts that Khenchen Rinpoche found to be most inspiring. Lord Gampopa lays out the teachings in a clear and systematic way that is understandable to beginners. At the same time, the work is of such profound depth that scholars and practitioners can study it over and over and still not fully grasp its meaning. He has said on several occasions, "Anyone who knows the Jewel Ornament well can say that they really understand Buddhism."

Maintaining a balance between theoretical understanding and the practice of meditation, Khenchen Rinpoche began a three-year retreat in 1978 under the guidance of the enlightened master Khyunga Rinpoche. During this time, he was able to deepen and enhance his understanding of The Five-fold Path of Mahamudra and the profound Gong Chik text of Lord Jigten Sumgon. He also received many other transmissions.

Khenchen Rinpoche's Life & Work in the West.

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Khenpo Tsultrim Tenzin was born in 1970. At the age of 14 he took his monk's vows and soon after began his Buddhist studies at Samye Monastery, the first monastery ever built in Tibet. In 1987, he traveled to attend the Drikung Kagyu Institute at Jangchub Ling in Dehra Dun.

He was an outstanding student from the start, and excelled in all of his subjects.  Having completed the first four years of his studies at Samye Monastery, Khenpo Tsultrim finished the last five years at Jangchub Ling in Dehra Dun, India.  After three years teaching lower classes in the monastic college, he was enthroned as a Khenpo in 1998 and spent three more years teaching Buddhist philosophy at the Institute. He has also completed the Ngondro and Chakrasamvara practices in retreat. Khenpo Tsultrim arrived at the TMC in April 2001, and is studying English. He began teaching at the Center in August of that year.

Drupon Thinley Ningpo has studied Buddhist philosophy for many years, and was well- respected as the monastery disciplinarian for several years at Jangchub Ling, our head monastery in exile in India. After this, he accomplished the traditional three-year retreat at Almora, India, during which he studied and practiced the Five-fold Path of Mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa. He was awarded the title "Drupon," or retreat master based on these accomplishments.  Drupon is the Retreat Master for Phuntsok Dargye Ling, the retreat center for TMC. 

If you would like to invite Khenpo Rinpoche or Drupon Rinpoche to teach in your community, please contact us to schedule a visit.  TMC requests that groups hosting lamas offer, at a minimum, to cover the cost of the lama's health insurance for the duration of their stay with your group (not just for the days they are teaching).  In addition, in order to give the lamas time to rest, it is requested that a minimum of 24 hours of rest be provided after arrival, before the teaching program, and after the teaching program ends prior to departure.  Please avoid filling the schedule during the teaching program as well in order to give them time for rest during their stay.  It is also recommended that, if possible, arrangements be made so that they may take their meals in private if they so choose.