The president of Nalandabodhi is the Seventh Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, a leading scholar and meditation master. Rinpoche is an adept in the Buddhist science of mind and versed in the nuances of modern day cultures, both East and West. Rinpoche is also the driving force behind the development of nalandabodhi.org and related websites.
Official Website
The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche is acknowledged as one of the foremost scholars and meditation masters of his generation in the Nyingma and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He is known for his sharp intellect, humor, and the lucidity of his teaching style. Fluent in the English language and well-versed in Western culture and technology, Rinpoche is also an accomplished calligrapher, visual artist and poet.
Rinpoche is a prolific teacher and author. His teachings have been widely published in Bodhi Magazine and other venues. Rinpoche's latest books include Mind Beyond Death (Snow Lion Publications, 2007), Penetrating Wisdom: The Aspiration of Samantabhadra (Snow Lion Publications, 2006) and Wild Awakening (Shambhala Publications, 2003). Rinpoche has dedicated himself to the preservation of traditional Buddhist traditions in the East, and to supporting a genuine transmission of Buddhism to the West.
Dharma Chakra Center, Rumtek, Sikkim, India. Photo by Danielle.
The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche was born Karma Sungrap Ngedon Tenpa Gyaltsen in 1965 at Rumtek Monastery (Dharma Chakra Center) in Sikkim, India. His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwang Karmapa prophesized his birth to his parents before he was conceived. His father was Dhamch� Yongdu, the General Secretary of His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwang Karmapa and his mother was Lekshey Drolma, who comes from a family of intellectuals and artists. Upon his birth, the Sixteenth Gyalwang Karmapa, supreme head of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, immediately recognized him as the seventh in the line of Dzogchen Ponlop incarnations. He was enthroned as The Seventh Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche at Rumtek Monastery in 1968.
Rinpoche received Buddhist refuge and bodhisattva vows from His Holiness at an early age, and was ordained as a novice monk in 1974. He has received most of the Buddhist teachings and empowerments of the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions from His Holiness the 16th Karmapa and His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Rinpoche also studied with and received numerous transmissions from Alak Zenkar Rinpoche, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Tulku Ugyen Rinpoche, Kalu Rinpoche, and many other masters. The primary teacher for Rinpoche has been Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, a highly-respected wandering yogi of this century.
At twelve, he began studying Buddhist philosophy at the primary school in Rumtek. In 1980, Rinpoche first traveled to Europe, United States, Canada, and Southeast Asia with His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwang Karmapa. In addition to serving as His Holiness' attendant, he gave dharma teachings and assisted with the various ceremonies performed during the course of this tour.
In 1981, he entered the monastic college at Rumtek, Karma Shri Nalanda Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies, an affiliate of Sampurnanant Sanskrit University in Varanasi, (U.P.) India. There he was schooled in the traditional scholastic curriculum of Buddhist philosophy, psychology, logic, and debate.
Rinpoche worked for the Students' Welfare Union at the Institute for three years. In 1987, Rinpoche became the head librarian of the Institute's new library. He was the chief-editor of the Nalandakirti Journal, an annual publication which brings together Eastern and Western views on Buddhism.
In May 1990, Rinpoche graduated from the Institute as Ka-rabjampa and also simultaneously earned the degree of Acharya, or Master of Buddhist Philosophy, from Sampurnanant Sanskrit University. Ka-rabjampa literally means "one with unobstructed knowledge of scriptures." This is the traditional Kagyu degree which is equivalent to the Geshe degree.
Rinpoche subsequently completed courses of studies in English and comparative religions at Columbia University in New York City.
Rinpoche travels widely and teaches in North America, Europe and Asia. Since 1990 he has annually criss-crossed the globe, teaching and assisting Buddhist centers around the world. He supervises the activities of study and meditation centers in Europe and North America, and has worked actively to develop and adapt traditional Tibetan Buddhist education curriculums for Western audiences.
In 1994, to assist in the integration of computer technology with traditional Tibetan scholarship, Rinpoche founded Nitartha International, a non-profit education corporation based in New York City. Nitartha uses computer technologies to support Tibetan studies and education, and preserves the ancient literature of Tibet in digital formats. Rinpoche also advises web site design for various dharma related sites, such as Nalandabodhi.org.
In 1996 he helped establish Nitartha Institute in North America, which provides a focused Buddhist studies program, and where Rinpoche is the main teacher. Since January 1996, Rinpoche has been visiting professor at Naropa University, Boulder, Colorado, where he teaches courses on Buddhist philosophy and language.
In 1997, Rinpoche founded Nalandabodhi to preserve the genuine lineage of the Nyingma and Kagyu Schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
In 1998 he became director of the Kamalashila Institute of Germany, at the request of His Holiness, the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa.
In 2003, under the guidance of Khenchen Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, he founded Nalanda West, a new international events center for Nalandabodhi in Seattle, Washington as a place for the genuine teachings and transmission of the pure wisdom of Buddhism to the west.
Modern Mind, Ancient Wisdom
Rinpoche also holds important offices within the Nyingma and Kagyu lineages. As abbot of Dzogchen Monastery, Rinpoche is a high-ranking Nyingma master. In addition, in 1979 at Dharmachakra Center, Rumtek, Sikkim, India, His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwang Karmapa, supreme head of the Kagyu lineage, formally empowered and officially proclaimed The Seventh Ponlop Rinpoche as one of the lineage holders of the Karma Kagyu school and heart son of His Holiness the Karmapa.
Rinpoche resides in Seattle, Washington State, USA.
