Katog Choling

Khentrul Lodrö Thayé Rinpoche has taught for many years at monasteries in Tibet and India, and is the abbot of Katog Mardo Tashi Choling in Eastern Tibet, where he established a retreat center, library, and shedra (higher philosophical studies institute). He is currently building a school for the monastery's children. He not only obtained financial support for the monastery buildings, but also oversaw the construction of giant prayer wheels and other representations of body, speech and mind to preserve the dharma. He directs the education and spiritual practice for over three hundred monks, of whom there are seventy advanced-degree candidates, one hundred children, and twenty full time retreatants.

Rinpoche studied dharma intensively for over thirty years at the feet of his teachers in Mardo Tashi Choling and Katog monasteries in eastern Tibet, His Holiness Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok’s Serthar Buddhist Institute in Kardze, Tibet, and His Holiness Penor Rinpoche’s monastery Namdroling in India. Acknowledged as a scholar of the highest level, he thrice received the title of Khenpo (equivalent to a Doctor of Philosophy), making him a triple Khenpo. He has also been recognized by His Holiness Katog Moktza Rinpoche as a tulku (a reincarnate master) of Drubtop Namkha Gyamtso of Katog Monastery. He was enthroned in the mother monastery of Katog by HH Moksa among many lamas, khenpos, and monks.

Hence, the name "Khentrul" denotes one who is both a khenpo and a tulku. In addition to having completed over three years of retreat, he has received the entire Nyingt'hig lineage (including Nyingt'hig Yabzhi, Dzod Dun, Ngalso Khorsum, Yeshe Lama, and Chetzun Nyingt'hig), as well as many empowerments, scriptural transmissions, and explanations on the pith instructions for Great Perfection (Dzogchen) practice.

Khentrul Rinpoche has also received the rarely bestowed oral transmission of Khenpo Ngakchung’s Nyingt'hig lineage. From H.H. Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche, H.H. Dodrubchen Rinpoche, H.H. Penor Rinpoche, and H.H. Katog Moktza Rinpoche, he received all of the empowerments and scriptural transmissions for the Kama and Terma cycles of the Nyingma school.

Enthronement CeremonyKhentrul Rinpoche came to the United States in September of 2003, under the invitation of His Eminence Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, who requested that he start a program for studying Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and meditation in a traditional way (known as a shedra). This past fall, 2008, was the sixth successful year of the shedra program. Khentrul Rinpoche has been constantly traveling around the United States, tirelessly teaching and sharing his knowledge. He has established his own non-profit organization to support dharma activity in the west called Katog Choling and is presently creating a retreat center in Arkansas called Katog Choling Rit'hröd (Rit'hröd means mountain retreat center). He also visits many dharma practice groups around the United States and other countries where he supports many students in their pursuit of dharma. For his teaching and travel schedule please check the events schedule.