Our kind Nalandabodhi teachers offer instruction in the timeless Buddhist teachings in locations throughout the world.
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DZOGCHEN PONLOP
RINPOCHEFounder and Spiritual Director
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of NalandabodhiWorldwide
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DILYAK DRUPON
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RINPOCHEWorldwide
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ACHARYA LAMA
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TENPA GYALTSENWorldwide
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LAMA
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RABTEN TSHERINGU.S., Canada
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ACHARYA
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TASHI WANGCHUKWorldwide
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ACHARYA
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LHAKPA TSHERINGU.S., Mexico
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TENAM LAMA
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TENZIN NAMDAKU.S., Nepal
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MITRA
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MARK POWERU.S., Mexico
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MITRA
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KARL BRUNNHOLZLWorldwide
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MITRA
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LEE WORLEYU.S., Canada
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MITRA
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TYLER DEWARWorldwide
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MITRA
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AMITA GUPTAU.S.
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The founder and president of Nalandabodhi, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, is a leading Buddhist teacher in North America and an advocate of American and Western Buddhism. A lover of music, art and urban culture, Rinpoche is a poet, an avid photographer, an accomplished calligrapher and visual artist, as well as a prolific author. Rinpoche is fluent in English and well-versed in Western culture and technology. He is also the founder of Nitartha International, a non-profit educational corporation dedicated to preserving the contemplative literature of East Asia.
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Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche is highly respected for his gentle demeanor and deep wisdom. Born in Rumtek, Sikkim, India in 1965, he grew up and was educated there during the tenure of the 16th Karmapa. Rinpoche graduated from Nalanda Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies in 1991, and continued to serve there until 1992 when Rinpoche assumed duties as abbot of Dilyak Monastery in Nepal. Since the mid-1990s, Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche has offered an increasing portion of his time to Nalandabodhi, advising both students and teachers with steady temperament, deep awareness, and considerable practical acumen.
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Born: Drakar region, Nepal
Educational Background: Acharya degree, Karma Shri Nalanda Institute and Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.
Occupation: Professor, Buddhist Studies and Tibetan language, Naropa University
Current projects: Translation of Tibetan texts. Training new translators.
Lives in: Boulder, Colorado, USA
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Born: Sikkim, India
Educational Background: Trained at Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim, India.
Occupation: Resident Teacher, Nalandabodhi Canada
Current projects: Teaching at Maitrivana in Vancouver, as well as in Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax.
Lives in: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Born: Eastern Bhutan
Educational Background: Acharya degree, Karma Shri Nalanda Institute and Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.
Occupation: Principal editor, Nitartha International
Current projects: Publishing the Eight Great Treatises of the Karma Kagyu lineage
Lives in: Seattle, Washington, USA
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Born: Goshi village, Dagana Valley, Southern Bhutan
Educational Background: Acharya degree, Karma Shri Nalanda Institute and Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.
Occupation: Resident Teacher, Northeast Nalandabodhi Consortium
Current projects: Teaching in NY, as well as in CT and PA
Lives in: New York City, New York, USA
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Educational Background: Trained at Dzogchen Monasteries, in Tibet and India.
Occupation: Attendant to Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. Director, Nitartha International Document Input Center, Nepal. Developer of Nitartha-Sambhota Tibetan Software.
Current projects: Sambhota Unicode font development and many Nitartha Publications projects
Lives in: Seattle, Washington, USA
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Born: New Hampshire, USA
Education: Experiential training in service, administrative and ministerial roles in Buddhist communities. Received Masters of Divinity equivalent and certification through the Association of Professional Chaplains.
Occupation: Chaplain, palliative care, Seattle Children's Hospital
Current projects: Serves on US Karma Sangha Board of Directors, Nalandabodhi. Developing Nalandabodhi Path of Activity courses.
Lives in: Seattle, Washington, USA
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Born: Munich, Germany
Education: Trained as a physician. Five-year training in higher Buddhist philosophy at Kamalashila Institute, Germany. Buddhist and Tibetan language training at Marpa Institute For Translators in Kathmandu, Nepal. Studied Tibetology, Buddhology, and Sanskrit at Hamburg University.
Occupation: Full-time Tibetan translator for Tsadra Foundation.
Current projects: Supervises the Nalandabodhi Path of Study courses. Teaches Nitartha Institute courses.
Lives in: Seattle, Washington, USA
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Born: Glen Cove, New York, USA
Education: BA in English, Drama, Mt. Holyoke College; MA in Buddhist Studies, Tibetan Language, Naropa University; Graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse, NYC and the Ngedon School of Higher Learning, Boulder, Colorado.
Occupation: Professor of Theater and Contemplative Education at Naropa University
Current projects: Dean of Nalandabodhi Mitra Council
Lives in: Boulder, Colorado, USA
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Born: Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
Education: On-the-job training as a Tibetan language translator. Has served as translator at many teachings given by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche and by H.H. the 17th Karmapa.
Occupation: Literary translator and oral interpreter (Tibetan), Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche's Calendar Secretary, Faculty member Nitartha Institute
Lives in: Seattle, Washington, USA
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Born: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Education: Masters in Engaged Buddhist Studies from Naropa University with training in Buddhist Chaplaincy; trained closely with master Thangka Painter R.D. Salga in Nepal.
Occupation: Massage Therapist (Licensed Massage Practitioner)
Current Projects: Teachings on Thangka Painting, the 21 Taras, and Relative Bodhicitta (lovingkindness).
Lives in: Seattle, Washington, USA
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- Guru
- When a student calls a spiritual teacher “guru,” the term refers to a relationship of deepened mutual commitment and trust. In such a relationship, the connection itself becomes a means to experience the mind that is always naturally awake. A student decides to enter this special relationship only after careful consideration. While some Nalandabodhi members regard Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche as their guru, many experience benefit from relating to Rinpoche as a spiritual friend rather than as a guru.
- Rinpoche
- Meaning "precious one," is an honorific title. Traditionally, the title “Rinpoche” is given to a person who has been recognized as the reincarnation of a great teacher, though as an honorary title it is also given as an expression of respect.
- Acharya
- Acharya is a title given to a person who has gone through the traditional 9-year training in a shedra, or Tibetan Buddhist monastic academy.
- Lama
- Originally this term was only used for masters of high realization, but more recently it has also become a title for people who have done the traditional three-year meditation retreat in the Kagyu Lineage.
- Mitra
- In 2005, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche appointed a group of his long-time students to be senior Western teachers of Nalandabodhi. He gave each of them the title Mitra, or 'spiritual friend.' The Mitras teach in Nalandabodhi centers throughout North America mainly, and provide continual guidance and leadership for the practice and study paths of Nalandabodhi.
