Lama Jigmé Namgyal

Lineage

The Buddhist teachings and methods are handed down from teacher to pupil following an oral tradition, a tradition that is ultimately traceable all the way back to the Buddha Shakyamuni himself. This tradition gives us an assurance of quality and authenticity.

Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche

In light of the importance placed on the lineage, it is customary to introduce a teacher by first introducing his teacher. Lama Jigmé Namgyal has had many Buddhist teachers since his childhood. Out of all Lama Jigmé's many great teachers, Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche was the most pivotal.

His Holiness Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche started giving teachings in the 1980s in a valley in Kham in Eastern Tibet. Many Tibetans, Chinese and Westerners travelled to the valley to follow his teachings, which culminated in the foundation of the Buddhist Institute Serthar Larung Gar. In 2001 more than 8,000 monks and nuns lived there. Under Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche's tutelage, thousands of devotees matured into becoming teachers. Serthar Larung Gar was an ecumenical institution, according to which no distinctions are made between this or that Buddhist school, bringing them all together into one.

In 1990 Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche travelled to India and Nepal, at which time he re-established his connections with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. As the recognized re-incarnation of the Bodhisattva Manjusri, Khenpo Jigme gave HH the Dalai Lama teachings. Khenpo Jigme passed away 7 January 2004 at the age of 70. Our wish and hope is that Phuntsok Chö Ling will grow in rememberance and in the spirit of Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche. All of our activities and merits are dedicated to His Holiness Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche.

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Lama Jigmé Namgyal

Lama Jigmé Namgyal was born in 1973 into a nomad family in Amdo, in the Eastern part of Tibet. At eight years of age he became apart of cloister life, and ten years later he left for Serthar Larung Gar, the Buddhist Institute of Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche. It was here that he studied Tantra, among many other great teachings. Lama Jigmé subsequently gave teachings to countless monks and lay people within Tibet.

After consulting with his teachers, Lama Jigmé Namgyal decided to leave Tibet for Europe. This was a huge step, since he didn't speak any European languages, nor did he know anything about European culture. While working to earn his living here, he quickly learned English, and gained insight into the culture. He then went on to found two centers in Europe, one in Luxembourg (Centre Culturel Tibétain) and another in Rotterdam(Phuntsok Chö Ling).

Lama Jigme Namgyal’s connection with his masters