RinpocheKhentrul Lodrö Thayé Rinpoche
Khentrul Lodrö Thayé Rinpoche was born in eastern Tibet in the region of Golok, where he is now the abbot of Katog Mardo Tashi Choling Monastery. At the age of seven, he began the formal practice of dharma by taking monastic ordination. Rinpoche studied and practiced under his main root guru, His Holiness Jigme Phuntsog Rinpoche, a true pillar of the Buddha’s teachings, for more than twenty years. He also spent many years studying with His Holiness Katog Moktsa Rinpoche at Katog Gonpa in Tibet, as well as, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche at Namdroling Monastery in India for five years.
He not only studied, contemplated, and meditated on all the scriptures of sutra and tantra, including those of Mahamudra and Great Perfection, but he also received all of the associated empowerments, reading transmissions, and oral instructions; thus, he received the degree of khenpo (equivalent to a PhD) from each of the three monasteries. During that time, Rinpoche also spent three years in retreat.
Khentrul Rinpoche came to the United States in September of 2002, under the invitation of His Eminence Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, who requested that he start a program for studying Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and meditation in a traditional way (known as a shedra). Fall 2009 was the seventh successful year of the shedra program. Khentrul Rinpoche has been traveling constantly around the United States, tirelessly teaching and sharing his knowledge. Rinpoche’s style for presenting these profound and sacred teachings to Western minds is phenomenal. His teachings are always very clear and comprehensible in a way that is easily applied to one’s experience. It is quite rare to have a teacher of his caliber and traditional training from Tibet here in the West, and his students feel extremely fortunate to have him here.
H.H. Katog Moktsa Rinpoche formally recognized Khentrul Rinpoche as a reincarnation (tulku) of Katog Namkha Gyamtso, a mahasiddha of Katog Monastery. He conducted an elaborate enthronement ceremony for him at Katog before an assembly of monks, lamas, khenpos, and lay people. Thus, he is called khentrul — someone who is both a khenpo and a tulku. As the abbot of Katog Mardo Tashi Choling Monastery, Khentrul Rinpoche provides food, lodging, education, temples, and other facilities for more than 300 monks and 100 children.
In addition, Khentrul Rinpoche offers support to the main mother monastery of Katog, as well as, a few of its branch monasteries.
For more info about Khentrul Rinpoche and his monastery in Tibet, go to katogcholing.com.
