H.E. Khamtul Rinpoche
at Sakya Monastery of
Tibetan Buddhism, Seattle

In early November, Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism welcomed His Eminence Garje Khamtul Jamyang Dhondup Rinpoche to Seattle for six days of teaching. He gave major empowerments into the tantric lineage and practices of Guru Padmasambhava, a principal classical source of Buddhist teaching and yoga, as well as teachings on yogic ritual.

H.E. Khamtul Rinpoche is a well-known visionary Dzogchen master of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Born in 1927 in Kham, Rinpoche is the fourth incarnation in a lineage of scholars and saints from Eastern Tibet. Recognized at the age of eight as the successor of the Third Khamtul Gyurmed Trinley Namgyal Rinpoche, Rinpoche was installed as co-abbot of Garje Khamtul Mindrol Jangchol Monastery in Kham, Tibet. At the age of 27, he assumed responsibility for the administration of the monastery.

In 1960, Rinpoche went into exile in India and served the Tibetan community in various capacities. He retired as General Secretary of the Council for Cultural and Religious Affairs of the Tibetan Government-in-exile in 1986. Since then, Rinpoche has traveled to many countries and is presently engaged in giving teachings on various aspects of Tibetan Buddhism. In Dharamasala, India, Rinpoche has been associated with several monasteries, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Namgyal Monastery. Rinpoche is presently building a new Nyingma monastery near Dharamasala and hopes to see it completed in 2009.