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Shedra 2009 - Teacher Biographies

His Eminence Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

His Eminence Dzigar Kongtrul RinpocheRinpoche was born in the Northern Indian province of Himachal Pradesh as the son of the 2nd Chokling Rinpoche of Neten and Chokling Mayum, and grew up in a monastic environment there. Recognized as an incarnation of Jamgön Kongtrül Lodrö Thaye by Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and confirmed by His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, he was enthroned at Chokling Gompa in Bir.

Rinpoche received extensive training in all aspects of Buddhist doctrine. In particular he received the teachings of the Nyingma lineage, especially that of the Longchen Nyingthik from his root teacher, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Rinpoche also studied extensively under Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Nyöshul Khen Rinpoche and the great scholar Khenpo Rinchen.

In 1989 Rinpoche moved to the United States with his family and in 1990 began a five-year tenure as a professor of Buddhist philosophy at the Naropa Institute. Rinpoche also founded Mangala Shri Bhuti at this time, an organization established with the vision of furthering the wisdom and practice of the Longchen Nyingthik lineage.

Later, Rinpoche moved to southern Colorado and established the mountain retreat center, Longchen Jigme Samten Ling. Rinpoche currently spends much of his time there in retreat and guides students in long-term retreat practice. When not in retreat, Rinpoche travels widely throughout the world teaching and furthering his own education.

Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche

Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro RinpocheJetsün Khandro Rinpoche is the daughter of Kyabje the XIth Mindrolling Trichen, and is one of the most renowned Tibetan lamas currently teaching in the west.

Born into the Mindrolling lineage, which throughout its history has had many accomplished female masters, Rinpoche was recognized at the age of two by His Holiness the 16th Karmapa as the re-incarnation of the Great Dakini of Tsurphu, Khandro Ugyen Tsomo, who was one of the most renowned female masters of her time. Thus, the present Khandro Rinpoche came to hold the lineages of both Nyingma and Kagyu schools.

Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche has received teachings and transmissions from some of the most accomplished masters of the 20th century, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kyabje Mindrolling Trichen Rinpoche, His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, His Eminence Trulzhig Rinpoche, His Eminence Tenga Rinpoche, His Eminence Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, and His Eminence Tullku Ugyen Rinpoche.

Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche has established and heads the Samten Tse Retreat Centre in Mussoorie, India, which provides a place of study and retreat for monastics and western lay practitioners. She is also actively involved in the administration of Mindrolling Monastery. In addition, Rinpoche heads various charitable projects, and projects of Buddhist education and scholarship in India. Rinpoche teaches extensively in both Europe and North America, and is the spiritual director of Lotus Garden.

Lopön Rita Gross

Lopon Rita GrossRita Gross decided to devote her life to studying comparative religions during her collegiate years, and first began to study Buddhism in 1965 during graduate studies at the University of Chicago, where she received a Ph. D. By 1973, personal experiences led her to be interested in Buddhist practice, and soon thereafter she became a student of Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche. She began to study with Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche in 1995.

Rita Gross has written many books and articles, and has taught extensively, both as a professor and as a Buddhist teacher. She is professor emeritus of Comparative Studies in Religion at the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire and serves as a lopön at Lotus Garden.

Sensei Ken Rawie

Ken RawieKen Rawie has been practicing Buddhism for 33 years, and Kyudo for 25 years. He lives near Washington, DC, and practices Kyudo according to the teachings of Kanjuro Shibata Sensei XX, bowmaker and archer to the Emperor of Japan.