The discussion about contemporary people of

significance in the legacy of the Vidyadhara

in Tibet must begin with Karma Senge

Rinpoche, who spent over fifteen years beginning in

the mid-1980s travelling across Eastern Tibet collecting

written materials of the Vidyadhara from his youth.

Karseng Rinpoche, as he is also called, was born a few

years after the Vidyadhara, his uncle, left Tibet in 1959.

The two never met. He later entered the dharma and

became a student of the siddha Karma Norbu Rinpoche,

who had known the Vidyadhara well (see Panel 3).

Karma Norbu undoubtedly told Karseng Rinpoche

much about his remarkable uncle. Karseng Rinpoche

later located over ninety of the Vidyadhara’s surviving

students in Eastern Tibet, collecting from them original

materials they had received from him. When Sakyong

Mipham Rinpoche visited Surmang for the first time in 2001, Karseng

Rinpoche presented many of these to the Sakyong. As written by the

Nalanda Translation Committee, “In a spontaneous and emotional

ceremony in the Dorje Khyung Dzong retreat at Surmang, Karma Senge

Rinpoche presented the Sakyong with a copy of the collected works

of the Vidyadhara compiled thus far” (see photo Panel 3). Karseng

Rinpoche had to stop

reading repeatedly while

crying as he presented a

reading transmission of

some of the texts to the

Sakyong. He is currently

leading efforts to rebuild

Kyere monastery, the

nunnery near there, and

the school for children.

The Twelfth Trungpa

Tulku, Chökyi Senge,

was born in 1989 in

Dege to a nomadic

family. He was recog-

nized by Tai Situ

Rinpoche and enthroned at Surmang Dutsi Tel in 1992. He began his

monastic training at the shedra at Palpung monastery, alternating with

time at Surmang. Beginning in 2003, his primary residence became

Dutsi Tel, in order to learn the Surmang traditions, including the

Chakrasamvara dances. In 2008, he enrolled at Serta monastery, the

renowned institute of dharmic learning in Eastern Tibet, founded by

Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok, who visited our sangha in 1993.

Another significant contemporary individual is Surmang Khenpo,

whose root guru was also Karma Norbu. He is from a Surmang village

and moved to Dutsi Tel following the completion of his studies at Serta

and receiving the degree

of khenpo. He has been

the organizing force

behind the construction

of the shedra at Dutsi Tel.

5. Significant Contemporary People and Activities

Konchok Foundation • www.konchok.org

Karma Senge Rinpoche and Twelfth Trungpa Tulku

PH

OTO

: Jes

se L

itvin

Other significant individuals include Damchö Tenpel Rinpoche, brother

of the Vidyadhara, and Aten Rinpoche. Damchö Rinpoche is several

years younger than his brother and also studied

with Jamgön Kongtrul of Shechen. He is the abbot

of Kyere monastery. Aten Rinpoche most recently

has taken responsibility for the rebuilding of the

original main shrine building at Dutsi Tel. The first

western student of the Vidyadhara to visit

Surmang was Lee Weingrad, who first traveled

there in 1988, following which he started the

Surmang Foundation, which built a health clinic

at Dutsi Tel, providing free medical care for the

past fifteen years.

Prior to his second trip to Surmang in 2004, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche

created the Konchok Foundation, named for his mother, Lady Könchok

Paldrön. In a statement issued prior to that trip, the Sakyong said that

the mission of the Konchok Foundation is “to help meet the spiritual,

cultural, educational, and humanitarian needs of the Tibetan people in

Surmang and elsewhere in the Kham and Golok regions of Tibet.” The

Konchok Foundation is currently completing the shedra at Dutsi Tel,

providing support for the Twelfth Trungpa, supporting the children’s

school and other projects. It also provided humanitarian assistance

following the recent

earthquake disaster in

Jyekundo. Funds for these

and other activities,

including the projects of

Karseng Rinpoche, may be

made through the

Konchok Foundation at

www.konchok.org.

Credits:

Text and coordination, David Garrett. Editing and accuracy, Larry

Mermelstein. Graphic design and layout, Liza Matthews, Sweet Design.

Photographers as noted.

Damchö Tenpel Rinpoche

PH

OTO

: Jon

Ran

soho

ffAten Rinpoche

PH

OTO

: Jon

Ran

soho

ff

PH

OTO

: Dia

na C

hurc

h

Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and 12th Trungpa, Sadhana of Mahamudra abhisheka, 2001

Shedra Dutsi Tel (lower right), Vidyadhara’s former residence (upper left)

PH

OTO

: JLy

ndon

Com

tock

Children’s school at Dutsi Tel shedra

PH

OTO

: Lyn

don

Com

tock

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche in Tibet