Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
His Eminence the Sakyong, Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche, is one of Tibet’s highest and most respected incarnate lamas. He is unique in that he bridges two worlds. The eldest son of the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who was instrumental in bringing Buddhism to the West, he is the incarnation of Mipham the Great, who is revered in Tibet as an emanation of Manjushri, the buddha of wisdom. He descends from the Tibetan warrior-king Gesar of Ling. He also holds the Kagyü and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. He is the head of the Shambhala Buddhist lineage and is spiritual director of Shambhala, a global network of meditation and retreat centres. He is the lineage holder of Naropa University.
The Sakyong (literally “earth-protector”) is a chögyal—“dharma king”—who holds and propagates the teachings of Shambhala. The first king of Shambhala, Dawa Sangpo, was empowered directly by the Buddha. The Shambhala tradition emphasizes confidence in the enlightened nature of all beings—windhorse—and teaches courageous rulership based on wisdom and compassion.
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche was born in 1962 in Bodhgaya, India, to Lady Könchok Palden. He spent his early years receiving a Buddhist education, later joining his father in the West, where he continued his study of Buddhist philosophy and ritual. He has studied with the great masters His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche—teacher of HH the Dalai Lama and the king of Bhutan—and HH Penor Rinpoche. He is married to Princess Tseyang Palmo, daughter of His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche, head of the Ripa lineage. The Sakyong has written two books, the national bestseller Turning the Mind into an Ally, and Ruling Your World. He travels extensively, teaching throughout the world
As well as being a meditation master, Sakyong Mipham is a poet and an artist, and he is very athletic. He enjoys many activities—golf, running, horseback riding, and yoga. He has run marathons to raise money for Tibet through the Könchok Foundation
Excerpts of closing remarks At the Kalapa Gathering/Festival in Halifax, NS. Aug. 2007 by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, on the Gesar teachings.
