Brief Biography of Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

Venerable Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche was born in the Northern Indian province of Himachel Pradesh to Tibetan parents and grew up in a monastic environment. Recognized as an incarnation of Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye, he received extensive training in all aspects of Buddhist doctrine. In particular he received the teachings of the Nyingma lineage, especially that of the Longchen Nyingtik from his root teacher, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Rinpoche also studied extensively under Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Nyoshul 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 Nyingtik 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.

For more information on all of these teachers, please visit the CTF's lineage tree.