a brief biography

His Eminence Choegon Rinpoche is one of the most important teachers within the Drukpa Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He is the ninth in a line of successive reincarnations that first began nearly five centuries ago. The utmost honour within the tradition was accorded to the first Choegon Rinpoche when he was requested to serve as a teacher to the head of his lineage (Padma Karpo 1532-92). Choegon Rinpoche's accomplishments as a teacher of Vajrapani and Mahakala are renowned and that blessing has remained intact throughout the succession of his unbroken lineage. Commanding spiritual influence from their main seat at Dechen Choekhor Monastery in Tibet, every generation of lineage holder's have made their personal contribution, further embellishing this unique tradition of yogic practices and teachings. The 8th Choegon Rinpoche dedicated his life to the collection and preservation of rare teachings. In 1959 following the Chinese occupation of Tibet, he left for India, and it was from him that most of the present generation of Drukpa Kagyu lamas received their lineage teachings and transmissions. He is highly respected for carrying and preserving the current purity of the Drukpa Kagyu tradition.

In 1966 the present Choegon Rinpoche took birth in a yogic family in the remote Himalayan town of Kinnaur. At the age of six he was recognized by His Holiness Karmapa and His Holiness Khamtrul Rinpoche to be the 9th Choegon Rinpoche. Formal enthronement at Khampagar Monastery in northern India was to be followed b years of rigorous training. His main teachers were Khamtrul Rinpoche, from whom he received the main Drukpa Kagyu lineage, and Dilgo Khyenste Rinpoche who gave him the teachings of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He also received the complete Drukpa Kagyu transmission from Adiu Rinpoche After completion of his training, His Eminence served as the Vajra Master of Khampagar Monastery for eight years, and as the president of the monastery for three years. Rinpoche's clarity in teaching, his brilliant presence, warmth and humour make him a much admired teacher. His Eminence has taught in Taiwan, Malaysia, Great Britain, France, Germany, Argentina and the United States.

H.E.Drukpa Choegon Rinpoche's brief biography:

H.E. THE NINTH CHOEGON RINPOCHE CHOKYI SENGYE is considered to be one of the most important spiritual masters of the Drukpa lineage, a Tibetan Buddhist tradition founded by the first Gyalwang Drukpa Tsangpa Gyare Yeshe Dorje (1161 - 1211) who was revered as the authentic reincarnation of the great Indian saint Naropa (1016-1100).

The first Choegon Rinpoche was one of the teachers of the famed omniscient Pema Karpo, the Fourth Gyalwang Drukpa, and he was well-known for his accomplishments in the practice of Vajrapani and Mahakala.

The present ninth Choegon Rinpoche Chokyi Sengye took rebirth in a family of a yogi living in Kinnaur, a remote Himalayan town of Northern India. His main teachers were His Eminence the Eighth Khamtrul Rinpoche of the Drukpa lineage and His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche of the Nyingma lineage.