Khyentse Rinpoche's visits to the West: 1976 - 2010
John Sennhauser talks about Khyentse Rinpoche’s first visit and his work to support the Vajradhatu community after Trungpa Rinpoche’s passing
John Sennhauser recalls Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche’s time studying with Khyentse Rinpoche in Nepal, as well as his own memories of what it was like to be in Khyentse Rinpoche’s presence
Ani Pema Chodron on Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Celebrating the Return
Brilliant Moon: Glimpses of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche - TRAILER
Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche: Vision for the 2010 Centennial
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche: The Significance of Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche's First Visit to the West
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche on Shambhala and Trungpa Rinpoche
In this short video, the young Khyentse Rinpoche recalls his predecessor's close relationship to Trungpa Rinpoche and speaks of his own interest in Trungpa Rinpoche's work.
Rinpoche discusses his aspirations for his upcoming visit to the West
Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche
Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche was born in Nepal on June 30, 1993, and discovered by Trulshik Rinpoche through dreams and visions. He was enthroned at Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monastery in Nepal in December 1996, an event that was attended by thousands of students from all over the world.
Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche is being educated in Bhutan, where he is undergoing the traditional nine-year shedra course of study, along with classes in English and meditation, under the guidance of Rabjam Rinpoche, and the tutelage of Khenpo Yeshe Gyaltsen. The Khyentse visit website describes Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche as a diligent student who is compassionate, direct, and understanding. We all very much look forward to welcoming him to the West.
Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche is visiting Europe and North America this summer
The Mangala Shri Bhuti community, under the direction of Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, is hosting the US tour, including visits to Vershire, Vermont, New York City, and Boulder, Colorado. One-day programs are scheduled for New York (August 5) and Boulder (August 13), and a three-day program is planned at Pema Osel Do Ngak Choling in Vermont, (August 6-8). For more information visit Mangala Shri Bhuti's website.
Lotus Speech Canada, under the auspices of Changling Rinpoche, will host Yangsi Rinpoche in Vancouver where a four-day program is planned for August 20-23. Visit Lotus Speech Canada's web site for more information.
The Chanteloube community under the direction of Tulku Pema Wangyal and Tulku Jigme Khyentse will be hosting the Yangsi's visit to France. For more information visit Centre d'Etude de Chanteloube.
We will post links regarding events in Lisbon, Zagreb and Mexico City when we find them. Please send information to
Scheduled events
Europe: July
July 13 - 14 Dordogne, France
July 19 - 20 Lerab Ling, France
July 23 - 24 Nyima Dzong, France
July 27 - 28 Lisbon, Portugal
July 31 - Aug 1 Zagreb, Croatia
North America: August
Aug 5 New York City
Aug 6 - 8 Vermont
Aug 13 - 15 Phüntsok Chöling, Colorado
Aug 21 - 23 Vancouver, Canada
Aug 27 - 29 Mexico City, Mexico
The Celebration
In the second day of the celebration, February 21, over 50 different lamas, sangha and groups offered traditional representations of body, speech, and mind to Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche. A blog on Celebrating the Return site states: "Early on this session exploded into grandeur with a sudden offering by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche in the midst of everything else, which he followed with an offering to Rabjam Rinpoche right in front of Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche’s throne." -Continue
The Celebration Begins
The centennial celebration and ceremonies in honor of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche commenced on February 20th in Kathmandu, Nepal. Participants in the three-day event include most Tibetan lineage holders and major tulkus, as well as many devoted students from all parts of the world. A blog on the Celebrating the Return site states: "To walk into the courtyard of Shechen Monastery yesterday morning, in Bodanath, Nepal, was to enter into a display of warmth and devotion on a grand scale." -Continue
A new documentary on the life of Khyentse Rinpoche (available for viewing on this page) states that Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was born in 1910 in Eastern Tibet, at the age of thirteen he felt a deep longing to pursue a spiritual live and go on a long meditative retreat. On leaving home he wrote a letter to his parents:
Father and mother, stay in your beautiful home. Your son longs instead for empty caves. A handbook of spirituality is all I wish to keep. Your smiling faces will be with me always. And if one day I might reach spiritual realization, I shall repay your great kindness to me.
For the next fifteen years, Khyentse Rinpoche meditated in many caves, often remaining snowbound for the entire winter. He became one of the most profound and universaly respected teachers of the 20th century.
Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche's first visit to the West
starts in France this month
The Yangsi will be giving teachings and empowerments in France, Portugal, and Croatia in July (see schedule below). At each location, there will be a screening of a new film on the life of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and a display of sacred relics, as well as ceremonies and empowerments. A boxed set of the collected works of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche in English will be available, as well as translations of sadhanas from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s termas, and prints of thangkas based on the terma cycles of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
The first program in France (July 13 - 15) will be hosted by the Chanteloube community under the direction of Tulku Pema Wangyal and Tulku Jigme Khyentse. Here is the registration form
The Chronicles is looking for bloggers in Europe.
If you are planning to attend any of these historic programs in Europe, please let us know if you are interested in blogging and photographing for the Chronicles. Contact us at .
Here is Yangsi Rinpoche's schedule for the month of July
Europe: July
July 13 - 14 Dordogne, France
July 19 - 20 Lerab Ling, France
July 23 - 24 Nyima Dzong, France
July 27 - 28 Lisbon, Portugal
July 31 - Aug 1 Zagreb, Croatia
Mary Newton on the Celebration in Bhutan
Two weeks ago there was a Celebration in Bhutan led by Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche and Kyabje Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche. Rabjam Rinpoche and the Queen Mother hosted students from Croatia, Europe, America, Mexico, Brazil, the South Pacific and thousands of Bhutanese. For 3 days we practiced and then toured the country. This was my life's dream and I wanted to share with you, just to say how fortunate we all are that there is a new generation of teachers who are being so lovingly trained. It gives hope for the future of the world and the continuation of dharma in the West.
In attendance were Dudjom Rinpoche's Tulku, Namkye Nyingpo Rinpoche, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche, Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche, Sogyal Rinpoche, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, the Nyoshul Khen Yangsi, Choling Rinpcohe, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche and many more. I learned how to give multiple katas from the most elegant Bhutanese ladies and gentlemen.
At the end, a wild storm descended on the tsok. All the elements where dancing and rejoicing. The wind was dismantling the tent, the rain of blessing was falling, people were lashing themselves to the ropes to hold the tent and the shrine tent down. The Queen and the elderly Rinpoches where being carried to cover. The magical display of the phenomenal world was way stronger than us humans.
For students of Trungpa Rinpoche I want to express how close I felt to him in Bhutan. I finally got it, understood him, I could feel him coming out of Tibet and into the West and then back to Taksang to write his terma--the crazy wisdom, the magic, the drala. As we are getting older I want to encourage everyone to go to Bhutan, especially Trungpa Rinpoche's students, because he has made so much possible for us here in America, bringing his two main teachers, the Karmapa and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, both giving credibility to the lineage here in the West. As a sangha we have run the whole gamete of emotions with our teacher, sometimes not knowing what to say in response to criticism or change, etc. Personally I am at peace now and feel as my life comes to a close, there could be nothing better than what is happening this summer. Full circle so to speak.
Please indulge my heart. Anyway I felt like sharing, since so many wonderful events are happening this summer, the celebration of Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and the empowerments at Lotus Garden, which are both rare and historic.
May all be victorious
Mary Newton
Deep connections
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was perhaps Trungpa Rinpoche's closest teacher, advisor, and confidant during his years of teaching Dharma in the West. Rinpoche included Khyentse Rinpoche in all aspects of his work, including the Shambhala teachings and empowerments, all of which he entrusted to Khyentse Rinpoche, who later confirmed them as terma treasures.
This close bond with Khyentse Rinpoche was passed on to Trungpa Rinpoche's students during Khyentse Rinpoche's visits to North America in the 1970s and 80s. His impact on the community was penetrating. His presence was monumental, his mind was unfathomable, his demeanor was gentle and kind; after hosting Khyentse Rinpoche, the Vajradhatu sangha was affected in a fundamental and ineffable way. After Trungpa Rinpoche's death in 1987, Khyentse Rinpoche gave extensive teachings and empowerments to Rinpoche's students. His presence was comforting and inspiring, during a time of devastating sadness.
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche also regards Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche as one of his most important teachers. Especially during the years immediately following his father's death, Khyentse Rinpoche had a profound influence on the young Sakyong to be. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche recently wrote, "One way or another, the majority of students and practitioners from all the different lineages of Tibetan Buddhism will have a connection with Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche."
A Glimpse into the Opening Celebrations
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
This new film on the life of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche is presented here in five segments.
Directed by Matthieu Ricard
Narrated by Richard Gere
Music Director: Philip Glass
The Mangala Shri Bhuti community, under the direction of Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, is hosting the US tour, including visits to Vershire, Vermont, New York City, and Boulder, Colorado. One-day programs are scheduled for New York (August 5) and Boulder (August 13), and a three-day program is planned at Pema Osel Do Ngak Choling in Vermont, (August 6-8). For more information visit 
Lotus Speech Canada, under the auspices of Changling Rinpoche, will host Yangsi Rinpoche in Vancouver where a four-day program is planned for August 20-23. Visit 
The Yangsi will be giving teachings and empowerments in France, Portugal, and Croatia in July (see schedule below). At each location, there will be a screening of a new film on the life of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and a display of sacred relics, as well as ceremonies and empowerments. A boxed set of the collected works of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche in English will be available, as well as translations of sadhanas from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s termas, and prints of thangkas based on the terma cycles of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
The first program in France (July 13 - 15) will be hosted by the Chanteloube community under the direction of Tulku Pema Wangyal and Tulku Jigme Khyentse. Here is the 
Two weeks ago there was a Celebration in Bhutan led by Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche and Kyabje Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche. Rabjam Rinpoche and the Queen Mother hosted students from Croatia, Europe, America, Mexico, Brazil, the South Pacific and thousands of Bhutanese. For 3 days we practiced and then toured the country. This was my life's dream and I wanted to share with you, just to say how fortunate we all are that there is a new generation of teachers who are being so lovingly trained. It gives hope for the future of the world and the continuation of dharma in the West.