HH Chetsang Rinpoche
His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang is the 37th throne holder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage and is a manifestation of Chenrezig.
Born into an aristocratic family in Lhasa, Tibet in 1946, Konchog Tenzin Kunsang Thrinle Lhundru’s birth was met with many auspicious signs and visions. At the age of four, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the previous Drikung Kyabgon and formally enthroned and educated at Drikung Thil, the main monastery of the Drikung Kagyu order in central Tibet.
During the Tibetan exodus of the 1950s, His Holiness’s parents fled to India while he remained at Drikung Thil. He was adopted by His Eminence Gyabra Rinpoche and completed his elementary and middle school education in Lhasa.
HE Garchen Rinpoche
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.
HE Tritsab Rinpoche
H.E. Tritsab Gyabra Rinpoche is the future regent of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and the most important teacher of the younger generation of Drikung Kagyu reincarnate-lamas. The origins of his reincarnation-lineage goes back to the time of the founder of the line-age; Tritsab Rinpoche was then the first successor to the founder, Jigten Sumgön (12th century).
His last incarnation was responsible for identifying and educating both the current heads of Drikung Kagyu. Following in the footsteps of the great masters of The Practice Lineage, Trit-sab Rinpoche completed the traditional 3-year retreat on the main Drikung Kagyu practice of the Fivefold Path of Mahamudra when he was barely 19.
Rinpoche now travels to many Dharma centers to teach and practice many aspects of the Dharma.
Khenpo Yeshi
Khenpo Yeshi was born into a noble family in Kham, East Tibet in 1969. From early childhood, he showed a deep interest in the study of Dharma. Tibetan Dzogchen master, His Eminence Lungdok Rinpoche, as well as His Eminence Khenpo Könchok Gyaltsen took a personal interest in guiding young Yeshi and, at the age of thirteen, he was granted empowerments, transmissions and oral instructions in the cycle of sNying thig.
Arriving in South India at nineteen, Khenpo Yeshi went to Sera Monastery, and later entered Dzogchen Monastery to complete his studies in both the Sutra and Tantra trainings. Over the years, Khenpo Yeshi studied closely with more than two dozen eminent Khenpos, including His Eminence Khenchen Meiwa Tubten Rinpoche and His Eminence Khenchen Pema Tsewang Rinpoche.
Drupon Rinchen Dorje
Having great altruistic motivation from early childhood, Drupon Rinchen Dorje Rinpoche entered Tana Monastery in Tibet in 1984, where the numerous teachings he received included the Fivefold Path of Mahamudra and Chakrasamvara according to Drilbupa.
In 1993 he went to India, where in exile he joined the Drikung Kagyu Institute and received extensive instruction in Buddhist philosophy. He subsequently accomplished the ngondro practices of Mahamudra and the grand mantra recitation of Chakrasamvara and was initiated into the Profound Path of the Six Yogas of Naropa.
Drupon Rinpoche has completed six years of retreat, in Almora, India, and Lapchi, Nepal, the latter being one of Milarepa’s preferred retreat sites.
Venerable Lama Thubten Nima
Lama Thubten Nima was born in 1965 into conditions of political turmoil and exile associated with the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Lama Thubten Nima had the good fortune to receive instruction at the age of fourteen on the effects of virtuous and harmful actions by the great yogi Tamga, and he completed the four hundred thousand accumulations of the preliminary practices (ngö ndro) according to the Buddhist Yangzab terma.
His family having long been associated with Gar Monastery prior to the Cultural Revolution, Lama Thubten Nima made great efforts to travel to the Gar Monastery where he received refuge ordination from His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche.