Phakchok Rinpoche
Phakchok Rinpoche (Wyl. 'phags mchog rin poche) (b.1981) — the Seventh Phakchok Rinpoche, Tendzin Jigmey Drakpa, is the Supreme Head of the Taklung Kagyü lineage, the Abbot of a monastery in Chapagaon in the southern Kathmandu Valley, and the Head of Riwoche Monastery in Tibet's Dokham region. Born in 1981 to Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche and his wife Dechen Paldron, Phakchok Rinpoche is grandson of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and the eldest brother of the Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche. Recognized by the Kagyü regents and ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he has studied with a number of great lamas, including Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, Tulku Ugyen Rinpoche, Penor Rinpoche, Trulshik Rinpoche and Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche. An enthusiastic and vibrant young lama, his teachings are direct, accessible, and always fresh, opening up our minds in a playful and inspiring way.
Phakchok Rinpoche is currently vajra master of Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery in Boudhanath, Kathmandu, and Abbot of Do-ngak Nyida Zungdrel Sherab Raldri Ling Monastery (Nepal).
He is directing the development of the Vajravarahi Free Clinic, to be completed in 2007, which will provide free allopathic, Tibetan, Chinese, and Ayurvedic health care to the disadvantaged in the local community, and the Vajravarahi Monk School, to be completed in 2008, which will provide secular and religious education, training, room and board to 100 novice monks.
Phakchok Rinpoche is also Abbot of Pal Kagyu Shedrub Tashi Dhargye Phuntsok Ling Monastery, and President of Rangjung Yeshe Shenpen Nepal, a volunteer-based, non-profit organization that serves the poor and disadvantaged in areas of health, education, vocational training, street children, the elderly, and animals. Phakchok Rinpoche received the khenpo title from H.H. the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and H.E. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.
He completed in seven years the traditional nine-year curriculum of Buddhist philosophy at the Dzongsar Institute of Advanced Buddhist Studies, Bir, Himachal Pradesh, India. He specialized in studies of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism under the guidance of Khenchen Kunga Wangchuk Rinpoche and H.E. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. An enthusiastic and vibrant young lama, Phakchok Rinpoche’s lectures are direct and accessible.
He serves as Professor of Buddhist Philosophy, Rangjung Yeshe Institute Shedra, Center of Buddhist Studies, Kathmandu University, where he teaches general Buddhist philosophy with emphasis on the Middle Way. He has been guest-lecturer at various centers in Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, United States of America, and Canada, and he recently established several new Buddhist centers in Malaysia. Phakchok Rinpoche is a Advisory Board Member of the Chokling Tersar Foundation.
Visits to Rigpa Centres
- Lerab Ling, 26-27 June 2009.
- Lerab Ling, 28-29 October 2012.