Our Teachers
Since Rigpa’s founder and main teacher, Sogyal Rinpoche, passed away in 2019, great masters of the Nyingma and Longchen Nyingtik traditions who have taught, guided and given transmissions and instructions to the Rigpa community over many years, continue to do so.
On this page
- Masters of the Nyingma Lineage Guiding Rigpa
- Rigpa's Senior Teachers and Senior Practice Holders
Masters of the Nyingma Tradition Guiding Rigpa
The spiritual direction of Rigpa is led by a Vision Board, and guided by our Spiritual Advisers, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche and Khenchen Namdrol Rinpoche each of whom are senior masters in the Nyingma tradition of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Rigpa is also advised by many other great masters of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism.
In addition, Rigpa has been honoured on many occasions to host masters of the Sakya, Kagyü and Gelug traditions such as His Holiness Sakya Gongma Trichen Rinpoche, His Eminence Khamtrul Rinpoche and His Eminence Ling Rinpoche.
Rigpa's Teachers
& Practice Holders
Alongside Rigpa’s advisery lamas, a group of 25 Senior Teachers and Senior Practice Holders were nominated and formally entrusted in 2021. This group is responsible for guiding our community’s study and practice together with a broader community of 200 teachers and practice holders.
All of Rigpa’s teachers and practice holders are responsible to the Buddhadharma and to Rigpa’s sangha and lineage and therefore they are accountable to Rigpa’s Vision Board and Spiritual Advisors. They all adhere to ethical standards including Rigpa’s Code of Conduct and comply with the laws in each country where they teach and practice.
Supported by Rigpa’s Spiritual Advisers and great masters of the Nyingma tradition, a group of Senior Teachers and Senior Practice Holders were formally entrusted to take the lead in guiding our community’s study and practice.
‘Senior Teachers’ are those who take responsibility for overseeing and guiding the study and practice of the Rigpa sangha internationally; they teach on a wide range of Dharma topics and teach both Rigpa sangha and public audiences.
’Senior Practice Holders’ are the most senior knowledge holders of the lineage of Vajrayana practices held in Rigpa.
‘Teachers’ specialise in one or several Dharma topics connected to the path of study and practice, such as meditation, foundations of Buddhism, lojong, madhyamaka, Vajrayana preliminary practices (Ngondro), and so on.
‘Practice Holders’ lead Vajrayana group practice for the Rigpa community around the world, contributing to the continuation of the vibrant tradition of Vajrayana in Rigpa.
Rigpa's Senior Teachers and Senior Practice Holders
| Image | Name | Info | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Gaffney | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Dominique Side | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Lama Yönten | Senior Practice Holder | VIEW | |
| Ane Sangye Chozom | Senior Practice Holder | VIEW | |
| Tenpa Rabgye | Senior Practice Holder | VIEW | |
| Pia Artigas | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Valerie Baker | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Alain Beauregard | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Karin Behrendt | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Susan Browne | Senior Practice Holder | VIEW | |
| Damien Brohon | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Philippe Cornu | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Mauro De March | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Seth Dye | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| María García Quesada | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Ian Ives | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Gail Kollner | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Sherab Leypoldt | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Verena Pfeiffer | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Sébastien Reggiany | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Pascal Rey | Senior Practice Holder | VIEW | |
| Ruth Seehausen | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Claudia Thurn | Senior Practice Holder | VIEW | |
| Jan Van Der Breggen | Senior Teacher | VIEW | |
| Damien Van Effenterre | Senior Teacher | VIEW |