Photo by Elmar R. Gruber
Drikung Kagyü, His Holiness also received extensive teachings and transmissions from the 14th Dalai Lama, the 16th Karmapa, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoché, Taklung Shabdrung Rinpoché, Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoché and Drukpa Khenpo Noryang.
Since 1987 His Holiness has been giving teachings around the world while working tirelessly to ensure the continuity of the lineage. Today, His Holiness resides at Drikung Kagyü Institute at Dehra Dun, India. The Drikung Kagyü Institute is an education center, which emphasizes both the traditional monastic education, as well as present-day training to meet the needs of these times. The Institute consists of the main monastery (Jangchubling), a nunnery (Samtenling), Songtsen Library (a center for Tibetan and Himalayan studies) and Kagyü College (center for higher Buddhist Studies).
To learn more about His Holiness and the Lineage, visit: www.drikung.org.
His Holiness Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang Rinpoché, the 37th throne holder of the Drikung Kagyü Lineage and 7th reincarnation of the Chetsang tulkus is a manifestation of Avalokiteśvara (Buddha of Compassion) and one of the two supreme throne-holders of the Drikung Kagyü since the 17th century. The founder of Drikung Kagyü, Kyobpa Jigten Sumgön prophesied repeatedly, "In the future my teachings will flourish by the two bodhisattvas, who are like the sun and the moon, through their compassion and wisdom." The sun-like bodhisattva refers to His Holiness Kyabgön Chetsang Rinpoché while the moon-like bodhisattva refers to His Holiness Kyabgön Chungtsang Rinpoché (currently in Tibet).
His Holiness was born in 1946 into the aristocratic family of Tsarong in Lhasa and was formally recognized and enthroned in 1950. At the age of eleven, His Holiness gave his first public teaching and transmission during the 1956 Monkey Year teachings at Drikung. Although most of the heads of the other Tibetan Buddhist lineages fled Tibet when the Communist government took over control of Tibet, His Holiness did not escape to India until 1975. After spending the next three years with his family in the United States, His Holiness returned to India and reassumed his responsibilities as head of Drikung Kagyü lineage.
Aside from having received all the important lineage transmissions from his highly realized teachers in the
The Gyalwa Drikungpa, Kyabgön Chetsang Rinpoché has a very special connection with the United States of America that streches back to the mid-1970s. Soon after His Holiness went into exile in India, his family requested that he joined them in their new home in the United States. Thus His Holiness spent about three years in the United States - living with his family, learning English, experiencing daily-life in the West and even working part-time at different fast-food restaurants - until in 1978 when he returned to India and soon after commenced his three-year retreat in Ladakh.
In 1987, His Holiness returned to the United States for the first time. During that visit, His Holiness toured the major cities and gave teachings and transmissions at various locations. Subsequently His Holiness again came to the United States in 1994, 1999, 2000 and 2002.
We are most fortunate to once again have His Holiness return to the United States to offer the precious Dharma. Highlights of this 2010 Dharma Tour will include a very special transmission of the Nairatmya empowerment and teachings according to the ancient instructions of Lord Marpa (Maryland), a Cakrasamvara major-empowerment (Arizona) and the consecrations of the first Drikung Kagyü monastery (California) and nunnery (Vermont) in the United States.
His Holiness' Schedule
7/26 - 8/1 Garchen Institute, Chino Valley, AZ.
8/10 - 8/22 Tibetan Meditation Ctr, Frederick, MD.
8/27 - 8/31 Gampopa Ctr, NJ & New York, NY.
9/1 - 9/6 Drikung Meditation Ctr, Boston, MA.
9/7 - 9/12 Vajra Dakini Nunnery & Drikung Dzogchen, VT.
9/13 - 9/15 Florida Drikung Centers, Tampa Bay, FL.
9/16 - 9/20 Colorado Ratnashri Sangha, Boulder, CO.
9/21 - 9/26 Drikung Kyobpa Choling, Escondido, CA.
For detailed information, click the Locations tab on the top right corner of this page.
Photos by Ani Chime
Photos by Ani Chme
Dr. Hun Lye (Tour Co-ordinator)
c/o Tibetan Meditation Center
9301 Gambrill Park Rd.
Frederick, MD 21702.
