Drikung Kagyu Religious Society Dharma Project

His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche (center) with His Eminence Thritsab Rinpoche (right) and most Venerable Nubpa Rinpoche (left).	Drikung Kagyu Religious Society DHARMA PROJECT

Lord Jigten Sumgon The Drikung Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism was founded by Lord Jigten Sumgon (1143-1217) who was considered to be a reincarnation of Nagarjuna. Jigten Sumgon was the main disciple of PhagmoDrupa (1110-1170) who in turn was the disciple of Gampopa (1079-1153).
PhagmoDrupa

Gampopa Gampopa recived his Teachings from the enlightened yogi Milarepa (1040-1123) who was the main disciple of Marpa, the great Tibetan master and translator.
Milarepa

Marpa Marpa's teacher was the Indian Pandita Naropa.
Naropa

Tilopa Naropa was a disciple of the Mahasiddha Tilopa, who received transmitted teachings from the primordial Buddha Vajradhara himself.

In 1179, Jigten Sumgon established the great Drikung Thil Monastery in Tibet, which became the main seat of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage
Since Lord Jigten Sumgon founded the Drikung Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism, the Drikung Kagyu practice lineage has been transmitted as an unbroken lineage through thirty-five enlightened masters. Presently, the Drikung Kagyu Lineage is jointly headed by Their Holinesses the 36th Drikung Kyabgon Chuntsang Konchok Tenzin Choki Nangwa who resides in Tibet, and the 37th Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Konchok Tenzin Kunzang Trinley Lhundrup who resides in India.
His Holiness the 37th Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche is recognized as the emanation of Chenrezig, the great compassionate bodhisattva. In the history of the Drikung Kagyu lineage, the first Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche in his meditative realization, received directly from Chenrezig the teaching "The Heart Jewel of the Realized One". The life of the current Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche has not been an easy one. He was assigned to labor reform under the Chinese Communist Government after which with great difficulty, he left Tibet for India before going to the States and back to India again. Despite all these experiences, he continues to possess a vast compassionate heart with the wish to benefit all sentient beings.
Drikung Kagyu Religious Society (DKRS) is a non-profitable society registered under the Nepal government on 7th November 2001, with His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang as Chief Advisor, the Most Venerable Nubpa Rinpoche as Director, His Eminence Thritsab Rinpoche as Chairperson and 13 other devotees of Drikung Kagyu sect from Lime and Lachi as staff. These devotees from Lime and Lachi are indigenous people of Nepal who reside in the high Himalayas near the border between Nepal and Tibet.
DKRA was set up due to the wish of their Holinesses the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and Chungtsang Rinpoche to establish a formal Drikung Kagyu center in Nepal to serve the needs of Drikung Kagyu Rinpoches and practitioners. In recent years, the lack of a Drikung Kagyu Monastery and Retreat Center in Nepal has posed an obstacle for Drikung Kagyu Rinpoches and practitioners over there. With this in mind, the main aim of the DKRS is to construct a new monastery, a dialectic college, a meditation center and residences for Rinpoches, Khenpos and retreat masters. Aside from this, His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche has also noticed that the Nepalese and Tibetans in Nepal lead a very hard life and are very poor. Due to His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche's great compassion and kindness, he hopes that apart from serving the needs of the sangha community, he is also able to serve the needs of the community and help the poor and needy by providing free education for kids from poor families, providing healthcare for the sick and needy and care for the old. Therefore, DKRS also aims to be of benefit to sentient beings by building an old folks' home, a modern school, and healthcare center and by undertaking activities that promote environmental protection.
In this degenerated age, the Buddha's teaching is like a bright lamp guiding sentient beings in this samsara world. Nubpa Rinpoche and Thritsab Rinpoche have undertaken this great dharma project with great dedication for the benefit of all sentient beings.

May all mother sentient beings, boundless as the sky, have happiness and the causes of happiness.
May they be liberated from suffering and the causes of suffering.
May they never be separated from the happiness which is free from sorrow.
May they rest in equanimity, free from attachment and aversion.

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This page last updated on: 11/03/02

Lord Jigten Sumgon	The Drikung Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism was founded by Lord Jigten Sumgon (1143-1217) who was considered to be a reincarnation of Nagarjuna. Jigten Sumgon was the main disciple of PhagmoDrupa (1110-1170) who in turn was the disciple of Gampopa (1079-1153).	PhagmoDrupa
Gampopa	Gampopa recived his Teachings from the enlightened yogi Milarepa (1040-1123) who was the main disciple of Marpa, the great Tibetan master and translator.	Milarepa
Marpa	Marpa's teacher was the Indian Pandita Naropa.	Naropa
Tilopa	Naropa was a disciple of the Mahasiddha Tilopa, who received transmitted teachings from the primordial Buddha Vajradhara himself.
In 1179, Jigten Sumgon established the great Drikung Thil Monastery in Tibet, which became the main seat of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage Since Lord Jigten Sumgon founded the Drikung Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism, the Drikung Kagyu practice lineage has been transmitted as an unbroken lineage through thirty-five enlightened masters. Presently, the Drikung Kagyu Lineage is jointly headed by Their Holinesses the 36th Drikung Kyabgon Chuntsang Konchok Tenzin Choki Nangwa who resides in Tibet, and the 37th Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Konchok Tenzin Kunzang Trinley Lhundrup who resides in India. His Holiness the 37th Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche is recognized as the emanation of Chenrezig, the great compassionate bodhisattva. In the history of the Drikung Kagyu lineage, the first Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche in his meditative realization, received directly from Chenrezig the teaching "The Heart Jewel of the Realized One". The life of the current Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche has not been an easy one. He was assigned to labor reform under the Chinese Communist Government after which with great difficulty, he left Tibet for India before going to the States and back to India again. Despite all these experiences, he continues to possess a vast compassionate heart with the wish to benefit all sentient beings. Drikung Kagyu Religious Society (DKRS) is a non-profitable society registered under the Nepal government on 7th November 2001, with His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang as Chief Advisor, the Most Venerable Nubpa Rinpoche as Director, His Eminence Thritsab Rinpoche as Chairperson and 13 other devotees of Drikung Kagyu sect from Lime and Lachi as staff. These devotees from Lime and Lachi are indigenous people of Nepal who reside in the high Himalayas near the border between Nepal and Tibet. DKRA was set up due to the wish of their Holinesses the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and Chungtsang Rinpoche to establish a formal Drikung Kagyu center in Nepal to serve the needs of Drikung Kagyu Rinpoches and practitioners. In recent years, the lack of a Drikung Kagyu Monastery and Retreat Center in Nepal has posed an obstacle for Drikung Kagyu Rinpoches and practitioners over there. With this in mind, the main aim of the DKRS is to construct a new monastery, a dialectic college, a meditation center and residences for Rinpoches, Khenpos and retreat masters. Aside from this, His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche has also noticed that the Nepalese and Tibetans in Nepal lead a very hard life and are very poor. Due to His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche's great compassion and kindness, he hopes that apart from serving the needs of the sangha community, he is also able to serve the needs of the community and help the poor and needy by providing free education for kids from poor families, providing healthcare for the sick and needy and care for the old. Therefore, DKRS also aims to be of benefit to sentient beings by building an old folks' home, a modern school, and healthcare center and by undertaking activities that promote environmental protection. In this degenerated age, the Buddha's teaching is like a bright lamp guiding sentient beings in this samsara world. Nubpa Rinpoche and Thritsab Rinpoche have undertaken this great dharma project with great dedication for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Drikung Kagyu Religious Society

DHARMA PROJECT