H.H. Shabdung Rangrig Dorjee Nyima, the twenty-sixth Shabdrung of the Taklung Gazi family chain of descendents, was born with auspicious signs in 1991 to a couple named Gazi Sonam Topgyal and Sadu Sonam Lhamo. In 2000, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama formally enthroned him as the lineage holder of the Taklung Kagyu and honored him with the name, "Tenzin Gyurme Choekyi Wangchug" (the Unchanging Doctrine Holder, the Sovereign Lord of Dharma). In the same year, a grand enthronement ceremony was carried out in Jangchub Choling, the seat of the glorious Drikung Kagyu, in the presence of Taklung Matul Rinpoche, Drikung Kyabgon Rinpoche and many other great masters.  He received a year and a half of traditional Buddhist training of listening, contemplation and meditation at Dzongsar Institute.  Presently, he is studying at Sara College.

H.H. Taklung Matul Rinpoche Tenzin Kunzang Jigme

Tenzin Kunzang Jigme Rinpoche, the seventh H.H. Taklung Matrul Rinpoche was born in 1977 to Ngawang Tendar and Deden Zangmo. In 1987, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama formally recognized him as the reincarnation of the sixth H.H.Taklung Matul Thupten Jigme Choechog Rinpoche. He spent a few years in Namgyal Monastery studying Buddhist philosophy and practice. In 1991, he entered the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics, Dharamsala to learn both the Sutra and Tantra teachings of the Lord Buddha and completed his studies in 2003. Having finished his Buddhist studies, he is now living in Manali, Kulu, in Himachal Pradesh. Since there is no monastic seat of the Taklung Kagyu tradition in India, the Taklung Kagyu Rinpoches are jointly working for its establishment.

H.H. Phakchok Rinpoche Ngawang Kalsang Nyima was born on the tenth day of the seventh Tibetan month of the Iron Bird Year, in the 16^th  His father is Palden, a son of the noble family Chulung Pontsang from Tsawa Gang, and his mother is Tsering Dekyi, who is the niece of the previous H.H. Phakchok Rinpoche, a descendent of the godly lineage of Bonkar, and a master of Tibetan Medicine. In 1981, Tsering Dekyi bore a thick flesh covered placenta from which a boy appeared after being operated on. The moment he was born, he recited the mantra A HAM. The great accomplished master, Lama Tsejor Rinpoche gave him the name Ngawang Kalsang Nyima. During childhood, he remembered his past life and activities very clearly. Dege Lhathok Gyalpo, also known as Sherab Senge, who was famous for his clairvoyance and signs of accomplishment, loudly told H.H. Phakchok Rinpoche Ngawang Kalsang Nyima's mother, "You have the incarnation of H.H. Taklung Riwoche Kyabgon Phakchok Rinpoche in your womb. Take this and put it around your neck." Having said thus, he gave her a piece of turquoise. H.H. Taklung Shabdung Rinpoche, H.H.Taklung Tsetul Rinpoche, H.H. Kunzig Panchen Rinpoche, and many other masters recognized him to be the unmistaken incarnation of the previous H.H. Phakchok Rinpoche Ngawang Thupten Namgyal, and advised him to enter school. When H.H. Taklung Tsetul Rinpoche visited Riwoche, Phakchok Rinpoche offered the hair from the crown of his head and received the name, Ngawang Tenzin Choekyi Drakpa. Without much effort, his wisdom and intelligence flowered. His uncle, H.E. Choktul Tenzin Gyaltsen was looked after by the previous H.H. Phakchok Rinpoche with great care and was told to have great hope in him in the future. Accordingly, Phakchok Tulku received with great effort all the ripening empowerments, liberating instructions, and supporting oral transmissions. Thus, he displayed noble qualities. Based on subsequent requests from the monastery as well as the masses, in 2004 H.H. Taklung Tsetul Rinpoche, H.E. Choktul Tenzin Gyaltsen and many other great masters enthroned him as the unmistaken incarnation of the previous H.H. Phakchok Rinpoche Ngawang Thupten Namgyal with grandeur at Yishod Riwoche Taklung Monastery.  At present, he is shouldering the responsibility of looking after Yishod Riwoche monastery and visiting many of the Taklung Kagyu monasteries to give teachings. Hence, he is totally engaged in his spiritual activities. 

H.E. Choktul Tenzin Gyaltsen Ngawang Mawai Nyima

H.E. Choktul Tenzin Gyaltsen Ngawang Mawai Nyima was born amidst auspicious signs in 1940, the Iron Dragon Year of the 16^th Rabjung Cycle, to the lady Dolma Lhamo and Zilnon Gonpo from the noble Bonkar Tsang family. The 16^th Gyalwang Karmapa Rigpai Dorje recognized him as the sixth incarnation of H.E. Tenzin Tulku.  He received teachings on the general and particular teachings from the 6^thTibet in 1959, he was imprisoned for more than twenty years, during which time he suffered immense physical hardships from hunger, cold and fatigue due to hard labor. He later said that this proved to be a better purification practice than other virtuous activity such as prostrations or circumambulations. He was also able to improve his spiritual practice by mixing the four activities with deity, mantra and Dharmakaya, together with the sublime motivation of relative and absolute bodhicitta. During his time in prison, he recieved the wonderful opportunity to share his spiritual experience regarding Dzogchen, Mahamudra and other Lojong practices with many great masters. Hence, instead of getting discouraged by his hardships, he even led a happy and meaningful life in prison. After being released from prison, he took his religious freedom in stride and received the full ordination vow from Khenpo Batse Lama Drakpa Zopa from Riwoche Monastery. Later, he entered Drepung Nekyong Chode monastery in Lhasa where he studied and perfected the common and uncommon fields of education under Gaden Trichen Rinpoche. There he was respected and revered by everyone for his scholarship. The first prize of the trophy inscribed with the white conch was conferred upon him twice and the second prize once. The Panchen Lama and other respected scholars and masters praised him, and asked him repeatedly to take the Khenpo's post at Trungyang Nangten Lopdra Chenmo. Concerned only with the welfare of the teachings and sentient beings, he accepted this post. Both the lay and ordained people of Riwoche appealed him to return to Taklung Riwoche, the sacred placed blessed by Buddha. H.H. Phakchok Rinpoche Ngawang Thupten Namgyal and Khenchen Pema Rangdrol. Without much difficulty he understood what he studied. Due to the political upheaval in  

He returned in 1985 and has remained at Riwoche until the present.  Panchen Lama and other great masters have also highly recognized Riwoche Monastery, owing to its rich cultural heritage. There Tenzin Tulku has selflessly worked for the construction of new temples to support spiritual practice. After the completion of the new temple, Tsuglak Tra Khyilma, on the day of sixth Tibetan month of the Water Monkey year, 17^th Rabjung Cycle, he grandly inaugurated it with a ceremonial celebration. Gradually, he also constructed dormitories for the monks. Hence, his kindness is unsurpassable. Just as the Bodhisattvas enthusiastically work to fulfill the aspirations of sentient beings, he also has put great effort to accomplish the wishes of others, disregarding his own physical well being.  He has also remained impartial to all, regardless of whether they are high or low, wise or foolish. Therefore, he exhibits the nine qualities of noble beings that include scholarship, kindness and morality. As he was taken care of by the previous H.H. Phakchok Rinpoche who put great hope in him, this noble being has been very kind to the teachings of the Taklung tradition when it was under the threat of extinction. Particularly, he has taken utmost care of the seventh H.H. Phakchok Rinpoche Ngawang Kelsang Nyima with great love, providing him with the entire teachings of sutra and tantra, as well as the profound teachings of the Taklung School. At present, even though he is old and seriously ill, he is taking care of his health and courageously working hard for the greater benefit of the teachings and sentient beings. 

 H.E. Yongzin Rinpoche

His Eminience Taglung Yonzin Rinpoche was born in 1973 in ShangriLa, eastern part of Tibet. At the age of five, he was ordained by Ven Yonten Rinpoche and begin a two year period of monastic education at Rabgyeling Monastry. In 1993, propelled by the great wish of deepening his understanding of Buddhist Philosophy and practice, Rinpoche made his way, alone, to India.

Rinpoche then joined the Drikung kagyu Institute in the northern part of India. There, for five years, he studied Buddhist Philosopy, meditation, rites and rituals. Rinpoche also took his monk's vow from His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang

Rinpoche.

In 1997, His Holiness Taglung Matrul Rinpoche recognised him as the reincarnation of the 8th Taglung Yonzin Lhunpo who was the tutor of His Holiness Dragpa Tenpai Nyima.

Thereafter, Rinpoche went to retreat in Labchi, the holy place of the great Saint Milarepa.

In 2001, Rinpoche attended the Great Snake Year Teaching of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage for four months. Aft

er the completion of the teaching, His Holiness Drikung Kagyu Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, His Holiness Taglung Matrul Rinpoche and His Holiness Taglung Shabdrung Rinpoche formally enthroned the 9th Yongzin Rinpoche in the presence of 700 monks.

 Khenpo Lobsang Tsephel

Khenpo Lophel is from Kham Riwoche and entered the Riwoche monastery in Tibet in 1986. In 1990 he took the beginning vows of a novice monk. He studied the practice and prayer rituals of the Taklung Kagyu lineage there until 1997. In 1997 Khenpo went to Bier, India to study at the Dzongsar Monastery Shedra. He

completed his studies of the thirteen major Buddhist philosophical texts and the eighteen renowned Buddhist scriptures in 2005. In 2002 he received the complete Gelong vows of a monk from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

After completing the Dzongsar Monastery Shedra, Khenpo studied the sciences of reasoning and cognitive knowledge at Sera Jey Monastery for 1 year. Khenpo Lophel then went to the Riwoche Monastery in Nepal where he taught for one year as Lopon. H.H. Pakchok Rinpoche then gave him the title of Khenpo. Khenpo Lophel arrived in Toronto in the summer of 2006 where he assists and teachings depending on the needs of the students. In this way he teachings Tibetan language, Tibetan instruments and Dharma in a formal setting.

Khenpo Lophel (Lobsang Tsephel)
c/o Riwoche Tibetan Buddist Temple
28 Heintzman St., Toronto, Ontario, M6P 2J6
Canada
khenpo_lophel@yahoo.com
(416) 766-7964