Urgyen Samten Ling Lineage

Our lineage is Longchen Nyingthig in the Nyingma school in Tibetan Buddhism.

Longchen Nyingthig means "Heart-drop Essence of the Great Expanse" and takes its name for the renowned Dzogchen master Khunkyen Longchen Rabjam (1308-1363).

The mind treasures of Longchenpa were revealed directly into the mind of Jigme Lingpa (1730-1798). Jigme Lingpa was a Ri-me master who combined teachings from all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.

This non-sectarian view was exemplified by the first spiritual head of Urgyen Samten Ling, the late Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche (1920-1996). A legendary Dzogchen and Mahamudra Master.

We have had the great fortune of having Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche's son, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, teach at Urgyen Samten Ling on several occasions. Lama Thupten and Jean Gardner also are direct students of Tsoknyi Rinpoche having studied with him in both Nepal and Salt Lake City, Utah.

The spiritual head of Urgyen Samten Ling today is Khenpo Konchok Monlam Rinpoche. He is a highly respected meditation master and abbot of Nagi Gompa, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche's Nunnery located in Kathmandu, Nepal.

He is called upon to give teachings at monasteries in Nepal, India, Tibet, Taiwan, Malasia, and Hong Kong.

The resident teacher at our center is Lama Thupten Dorje Gyaltsen. He has over 30 years of experience and is a direct student of all spiritual heads of Urgyen Samten Ling.