Drupon Samten Rinpoche

SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR FOR DRIKUNG KYOBPA CHOLING

Drikung Kyobpa Choling was founded in 1996 by Drupon Samten Rinpoche, under the guidance of His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang. Drupon Samten Rinpoche was born in the Himalayan mountains of Ladakh. At the age of six, he entered the Tibetan Buddhist monastery, Lama Yuru, which was built in the 12th century and is where Naropa did many years of retreat. He studied with 13 accomplished teachers, learning Buddhist philosophy, ceremony, butter sculpture, painting, music, lama dance, healing, and astrology. Drupon was 22 when he went into a 3-year retreat as a student of a great meditation retreat master, Khyunga Rinpoche. Under the retreat master's guidance, Drupon completed the traditional three-year meditation retreat and the six yogas of Naropa. In 1987, his Holiness Drikung Kyabgon sent him to the United States to teach at the Tibetan Meditation Center and he stayed with Khenchen Rinpoche there for many years. On January 20th, 2001, he was enthroned by His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang in India, in front of over 800 monks attending the Snake Year teachings at Jang Chubling Monastery, and received the title Drupon Samten Rinpoche, Vajra Meditation Master. Drupon Samten has been teaching in the United States, Taiwan, Malaysia and Chile since 1987. He has obtained a very good command of the English language. He teaches with clarity, compassion and wisdom, and is open to help everyone that he meets.