Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche teaching in Lerab Ling, August, 2007

Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche (b.1964) — the present Dzigar Kongtrul, Jigme Namgyel (འཛི་སྒར་ཀོང་སྤྲུལ་འཇིགས་མེད་རྣམ་རྒྱལ་, Wyl. 'dzi sgar kong sprul 'jigs med rnam rgyal), was born in Northern India, shortly before the Tibetan community settlement at Bir was established by his father, the third Neten Chokling Rinpoche. When Rinpoche was just nine years old, his father passed away. Soon after this His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche recognized him as an emanation of Jamgön Kongtrul the Great and His Holiness the 16th Karmapa confirmed this. He was soon enthroned at Chokling Gompa in Bir.

Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche moved to the United States in 1989 with his family and began a five-year tenure as a professor of Buddhist philosophy at Naropa University (then Institute) in 1990. Not long after arriving in the United States, he founded Mangala Shri Bhuti, an organization dedicated to furthering the practice of the Longchen Nyingtik lineage. He established a mountain retreat centre, Longchen Jigme Samten Ling, in southern Colorado, where he spends much of his time in retreat and guides students in long-term retreat practice.

Kongtrul Rinpoche's root teacher was Dilgo Khyentsé Rinpoche, and he also studied extensively with Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche and the great scholar-yogin Khenpo Rinchen. His students include Pema Chödrön, the best-selling buddhist author, and his wife, Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel. He is also an avid painter in the abstract expressionist tradition.

Publications

• It's Up to You: The Practice of Self-Reflection on the Buddhist Path (Boston: Shambhala Publications, 2005).

Sogyal Rinpoche said of this book:

"An enthralling and practical book that speaks to us all with an exceptional clarity about confusion, uncertainty, and fear, about fearlessness and courage, and about awareness, joy, sanity, and freedom. A book which I cannot recommend highly enough."

• Light Comes Through: Buddhist Teachings on Awakening to our Natural Intelligence (Boston: Shambhala Publications, 2008)
• Uncommon Happiness, The Path of the Compassionate Warrior (Boudhanath, Hong Kong & Esby: Rangjung Yeshe Publications, 2009)

Teachings Given to the Rigpa Sangha

• The Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, Rigpa London, 20-22 June 1997
• Shamatha and Vipashyana, Rigpa Amsterdam, 23-25 May 1997
• Chapter Nine of the Bodhicharyavatara, Lerab Ling, 2-17 June 2001
• Uttaratantra Shastra, Rigpa Shedra, Lerab Ling, 2002
• Abhisamayalankara, Rigpa Shedra, Dzogchen Beara, 2003
• Seven Points of Mind Training based on Changchub Shunglam, the commentary by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé, Lerab Ling, 23-27 July 2006
• Staircase to Akanishtha by Jikmé Lingpa, Lerab Ling, 21-25 August 2007
• Heart Treasure of the Saints by Patrul Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, 16-19 August 2008
• Commentary on Bodhichitta by Nagarjuna, Lerab Ling, 12-15 August 2009
• The Heart Sutra, using a commentary by Taranatha, Lerab Ling, 8-10 June 2010
• The Wheel Blade of Mind Transformation by Dharmarakshita, Lerab Ling, 12-14 July 2011
• The Intermediate Stages of Meditation by Kamalashila, Lerab Ling, 21-23 July 2012

Further Reading

• View: The Rigpa Journal, July 2010, 'Very Little Needs and Much Contentment'—A Teaching for Troubled Times, and 'A Friend and Guide to the Sangha'

Internal Links

• Summary of Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche's teachings on Bodhicharyavatara in Lerab Ling, 2001
• Prayer for the Long Life of Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
• Kongtrul Incarnation Line

External Links

• Mangala Shri Bhuti
• 'Buddhism in the West' article at Dharma Dhrishti