Spiritual Director of Do Ngak Dzong
Ngakchang Karma Yeshe Namgyal Dorje Rinpoche
Rinpoche was ordained in 1993 as a Ngakpa Lama by the Very Venerable Karma Thinley Rinpoche IV and was given the title Ngakchang, meaning "holder, wielder, and transmitter of mantric power". He is a Western Lama who, for more than half a century, has practiced and taught Lord Shakyamuni Buddha’s teachings. He is from the Ngakpa order of Upasakas - male and female householder yogins - and is considered a meditation master in the Maha Ati (Dzogchen) and Mahamudra (Chagchen) Vajrayana meditation traditions.
Rinpoche received a Ph.D. in Education and Philosophy from Claremont Graduate University. He has written two books on Buddhist practice and poetry and has created two Buddhist musical DVDs. One of Rinpoche's goals is to integrate Buddhist and Western pedagogy.
He is dedicated to fulfilling Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar's vision for justice and social equality for the Dalit Community and offers a free online Buddhist diksha refuge blessing ceremony through his association, Akash Navayana Buddhist Association.
Rinpoche is also dedicated to flourishing the Buddha Dharma through the arts and is directing and producing an animated short of The Legend of the Great Stupa and aspires to create a full length animated telling of the Life Story of Guru Rinpoche. He currently offers teachings in the forms of small practice booklets and commentaries but the sangha hopes to bring Rinpoche's teachings onto an online platform as well as build a retreat center for him to teach at called Trekchod Ling.
After many decades in Los Angeles, Rinpoche moved to Kentucky in 2024.
Tashi delek!
A life of practice
- 1964Writes "Good Mornin' Sun" as the sun comes up over Seal Beach, California.
- 1976Offers the song "Namo Amitabha Buddha" to the Very Venerable 4th Karma Thinley Rinpoche on Saga Dawa.
- 1978Records "Good Morning Sun" with Shelby Flint for his video documentary Energy in the Marketplace.
- 1985H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche becomes a very close Dzogchen root lama, and inspires him to dive into intense Vajrayana practice.
- 1989At Sogyal Rinpoche's request, produces the multi-camera recording of H.H. the Dalai Lama's first Dzogchen teaching in the West, in San Jose.
- 1990Writes a Long Life Prayer for Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche on the August full moon, during H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's pilgrimage.
- 1991Meditates with Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche above the French Alps, preparing for H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's Dzogchen retreat in Grenoble.
- 1993Ordained as a Ngakpa Lama by the Very Venerable Karma Thinley Rinpoche IV, and given the title Ngakchang.
- 1994Writes Lungta Zilgnon, "Taming the Windhorse Through Awesome Splendor".
- 1995Makes his first translation of Parmenides' Proem from ancient Greek into Tibetan and English.
- 1997Writes his paper on the Proem in his Master's studies in Philosophy at CSULB.
- 2006For six months, the featured guest artist on Barbara Morrison's Southern California circuit; plays the opening of her Performing Arts Center in Leimert Park.
- 2015Invited to present the Proem paper at the 17th annual Society of Phenomenology and Media in San Diego.
- 2022Writes Upadesha I: Distilling the Quintessential Nectar of Rigpa over Saga Dawa; it is published by Nyönpa Publishing.
- 2024Moves to Kentucky after many decades in Los Angeles.
Lineage and teachers
- The Very Venerable Karma Thinley Rinpoche IV ordained Rinpoche as a Ngakpa Lama in 1993.
- H.H. Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche is Rinpoche's Dzogchen tsa wei (root) lama.
- H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche was a very close Dzogchen root lama of Rinpoche's from 1985.
- Lama Tharchin Rinpoche gave Rinpoche the Repkong lineage transmission, and heart teachings on openness and meditation.
- H.H. the Dalai Lama XIV gave Rinpoche numerous teachings and empowerments, including the Kalachakra and Avalokitesvara.
- H.H. Gyalwang Karmapa XVI — Rinpoche had the profound honor of knowing His Holiness' mindstream.
Rinpoche has a unique connection with Thangtong Gyalpo, the author of the Chenrezig sadhana "For the Benefit of Beings as Vast as the Skies".
Scholarship
Rinpoche holds a Ph.D. in Education and Philosophy from Claremont Graduate University; his dissertation presents a paradigm for Buddhist home schooling and distance learning, drawing on ancient Buddhist, Vedic and Multiple Intelligences pedagogies. He has taught Western and Comparative Philosophy and Religion at American universities and colleges.
His paper on Parmenides' Proem translates the ancient Greek into liturgical Tibetan, and traces English philosophical and religious terms back to their roots so that the experiential meaning of the Dharma can be carried into English. Professor Herbert Guenther encouraged him to continue this work, which grows into the Interlingual Translation project.
Rinpoche's music
Rinpoche has been a musician his whole life. He plays guitar and harmonica, sings, and has written over 200 songs.
Please enjoy this small collection of his work, or view all of his work on his YouTube channel.
Announcing Rinpoche's 1997 Proem paper release
We would like to announce the posting of Rinpoche's paper on Parmenides' Proem on our site. Rinpoche would like all of his students to read this paper. This 1997 paper was originally part of Rinpoche's Masters studies at CSULB in Philosophy as an independent study. In March 2015, Rinpoche was invited to present this paper at the 17th Annual Society of Phenomenology and Media in San Diego, California.
Short abstract
The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the starting point and procedures in translating the Greek text of 'Parmenides' fragment 1 (Alethea Proem) into liturgical Tibetan.
Video
From Rinpoche's YouTube channel.