His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche
Lama Gape
Tsunma Rinchen Khandro
OTHER BELOVED TEACHERS IN OUR LINEAGE
Khenchen Konchok Gyaltsen
Drupon Trinley Nyingpo Rinpoche
Khenpo Sherab Oser
Drupon Rinchen Dorje
Tsunma Rinchen Khandro is a meditation instructor with extensive experience in solitary retreat. In 2007 His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche chose her as one of two Drikung Kagyu nuns to come to the United States. In addition, His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche has expressed his full confidence in Tsunma and her ability to help western students on the path of dharma.
As a young woman, Tsunma studied chants, prayers, religious instruments and torma making. Ani Rinzin received transmissions and initiations of several Drikung teachings and she also received the commentary on the "Bodhisattva's Way of Life" from the late Khenpo Konchok Namgyal.
The Nyingma Rinpoche Tulku Pel-lu of Kham came to nunnery and
gave an initiation and commentary on Longchen Nyingthik to select nuns, among whom was Ani Rinchen Khandro. After this transmission and teaching, the nuns stayed in retreat on this teaching for three years.
When Ani Rinzin came to Drikung Kagyu Nunnery at Dehra Dun she studied religious texts, Tibetan language and grammar. She and one other nun were sent by the head of the Drikung Lineage, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, to His Eminence Bokar Rinpoche to study the Six Yogas of Niguma. His Eminence Bokar Rinpoche was a great teacher of Shangpa Kagyu School and passed away a few years ago. The Six Yogas of Niguma consists of Dream Yoga practices, Clear Light practices, Phowa, the Bardo Teachings, Illusory Body teachings, and Tummo (Inner Heat). The lineage of this teaching was from the great Master Naropa, who gave this secret teaching to his consort Niguma. The ultimate purpose of these teachings and their practice, like other teachings, is two-fold: to know that the nature of all phenomena to be of empty self and of an illusory nature and the need of developing compassion for all sentient beings. Daily transmission and commentary was given on this special teaching, which took one month and fifteen days.
She then received major transmissions, commentaries and initiations of
Drikung Kagyu teachings during the Dragon Year Teachings (2000) from
His Holiness Drikung Chetsang Rinpoche, His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche,
His Eminence Tongten Rinpoche and Venerable Khenchen Konchog Gyaltsen
Rinpoche at Janchubling Monastery, Dehra Dun, India.
In the spring of 2001 Ani Rinzin went with another nun to Lapchi, Nepal to undertake three years and three months retreat on the Six Yogas of Naropa. The retreat master was Dondrup Palden Rinpoche, a highly skilled practitioner who had been in retreat for many years. He is currently the Retreat Master at Lapchi.
In early 2005 Ani Rinzin went into retreat on a second session of the Six Yogas of Naropa. In November 2006 Ani Rinzin attended the ten day teachings of the Seven Limb Prayer by His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche at
Jangchubling Monastery.
In January of 2010, Tsunma Rinchen Khandro became the meditaiton instructor for Gar Drolma Buddhist Center in Dayton, Ohio.