About the
Kangyur Rinpoche Foundation
Guidance
Kangyur Rinpoche Foundation’s activities are guided by the three sons and spiritual heirs of Kyabje Kangyur Rinpoche: Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche, Tulku Pema Wangyal Rinpoche and Rangdrol Rinpoche. All three regularly teach and guide meditation retreats in Portugal.
By their invitation, several important teachers have taught in Portugal, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holinesses the 41st and 42nd Sakya Trizin, Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, Kyabje Tenga Rinpoche, Yangsi Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Rabjam Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, etc. Learn more about our events.
Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche
Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche is the third son of Kyabje Kangyur Rinpoche and one of the founders of Kangyur Rinpoche Foundation. He was recognized as an incarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodro by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche and by His Holiness the 16th Karmapa.
Rinpoche spent his childhood in Darjeeling with his parents. He then continued his studies and training with Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, whom he accompanied through India, Nepal and Bhutan.
In 1980, Rinpoche moved to France with his mother Ama-la, Jetsun Jampa Chökyi, and the rest of the family. Subsequently, he has divided his time between Asia and Europe.
He was also a close disciple of Dudjom Rinpoche and Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, among other teachers. He now regularly follows the activities of His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche is an authentic and living expression of the teachings from Khyentse Wangpo’s lineage and the Rimé tradition. He is the true embodiment of the meaning of his name, Khyen the “wisdom” and tse the “compassion”. Rinpoche teaches Dharma and guides practitioners with his vast knowledge and realisation, combined with a profound insight into Western culture.
Currently Rinpoche teaches and leads retreats in Portugal, France, Spain and other countries.
He is also responsible for the Padmakara Translation Group, directing their publications and helping its translators in the precious task of making the Tibetan texts accessible in the west.
Pema Wangyal Rinpoche
Taklung Tsetrul Pema Wangyal Rinpoche is the eldest son of Kyabje Kangyur Rinpoche.
He was born in Rong Dakmar, Tibet. In 1958 he and his family were forced into exile, settling in Darjeeling, India. Some years after his father’s passing, in 1975, Pema Wnagyal Rinpoche and his family came to live in Dordogne, France.
Pema Wangyal Rinpoche studied extensively under the guidance of Kyabje Kangyur Rinpoche, Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, and other great masters.
Although living in the West for over four decades, Rinpoche is deeply committed to nourishing the well being of Tibetan communities in exile, travelling frequently to India and Asia to supervise developmental, religious, educational and cultural projects.
Pema Wangyal Rinpoche developed a highly reputed program of traditional three-year retreats in Dordogne (France). These retreats have flourished under his continued supervision since their inception in 1980.
Together with Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche and Rangdrol Rinpoche, he also developed a series of parallel retreats in France and Portugal, allowing students who were unable to join the traditional three-year retreat to engage in a ‘parallel’ program of teachings.
Pema Wangyal is also the founder of the Padmakara Translation Group, as well as of several humanitarian and environmental organisations in many countries, including C.A.S.A. - Centro de Apoio ao Sem Abrigo, Mother Earth, Siddhartha’s Project.
Tsawa Rinam Rinpoche
(Rangdrol Rinpoche)
Tsawa Rinam Rinpoche, known as Rangdrol Rinpoche, is the second son of Kyabje Kangyur Rinpoche.
Rinpoche studied initially with Kangyur Rinpoche and later became a close disciple of Dudjom Rinpoche. He also received guidance as well as many transmissions and initiations from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and Trulshik Rinpoche, as well from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and many other teachers
He was recognized, by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, as the incarnation of Tsawa Rinam Namgyal, one of the main disciples of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Jamgon Kongtrul, and also an emanation of Namkha'i Nyingpo, one of the close disciples of Guru Rinpoche.
Rangdrol Rinpoche teaches regularly in the three-year retreats in France and also in the Portuguese and French parallel retreats.
In addition to teaching, Rinpoche spends much of his time in retreat. He also continues many of the compassionate activities of his father, Kangyur Rinpoche.
Rinpoche supervises students in their spiritual practices, overviews the activities of Songtsen and of the Orgyen Kunzang Chökhorling Monastery, in Darjeeling, Índia.