Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

They originate with Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye, one of the most illustrious lamas of recent history, known for his central role in the rimé or non-sectarian movement in 19th Century Tibet.

He is the second or third incarnation, depending on whether Lodro Thaye is counted (he was not known as "Dzigar Kongtrul"—that lineage is one of five distinct subsequent variants beginning after his death).

[2] The present Dzigar Kongtrul was born in the Northern Indian province of Himachal Pradesh to Tibetan refugee parents; his father was the third Neten Chokling, Pema Gyurme (1928–1974), and his mother, Mayum Tsewang Palden, practiced all her life, even in the midst of raising five children.

Not long after arriving in the United States, Rinpoche founded Mangala Shri Bhuti, an organization established to further the practice of the Longchen Nyingtik and Khyen-Kong Chok-sum lineages.

His most well-known student in the Western world is Pema Chödrön, who took him as her primary teacher in 1994, years after the death of her root guru, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

The remaining two are retreat centers – Longchen Jigme Samten Ling in Crestone, Colorado, seat of the e Sangdo Palri Temple], and Guna Norling in Salvador, Bahia – Brazil.

After his introduction to Western culture, Rinpoche became increasingly interested in modern art, particularly abstract painting and the work of Pablo Picasso and Wassily Kandinsky.