Ritual Masters

Tsewong Rinponche

Tsewang Sitar Rinpoche is the head of the historic Sangye Teng Monastery in eastern Bhutan. His father, the renowned master Lama Kunzang Gargyi Wangchug, initiated him into the world of Buddhist study and practice at age four. Rinpoche is a master of the Longchen Nyingtik, Dudjom and the various Chöd systems of Buddhist Tantric practice and the holder of the lineage of Pegyal Lingpa.

Rinpoche has spent more than twenty years in meditative retreat in his Himalayan hermitage, and is a powerful and dynamic teacher. While renowned for his transmission of Dzokchen, which allows rapid progress to perfect enlightenment, he also personifies the intense compassion of the Bodhisattva path. Rinpoche is highly trained in the sacred art of stupa building and has built stupas in Asia and the US. Such structures have tremendous healing benefit for both the landscape and all its inhabitants. Recently, Rinpoche has founded Sang Ngak ChöKor Ling as his North American teaching center. For details on Rinpoche’s teaching program, and a comprehensive biography, please visit the website, www.sangngak.com.

Lama Jinpa

Lama Jinpa (Dr Asa Hersh) is an ordained Ngakpa (white-robed Tantric Practitioner) of both the Kagyu and Nyingmapa lineages. Having completed the requisite 3-year 3-month meditation retreat, he has studied with great masters such as Kalu Rinpoche, the 16th Karmapa, Dilgo Khyentse and many others over the last 25 years.

Currently he divides his time between Asia and the U.S. Lama Jinpa’s speciality is the practice of chö; His goal as a teacher and writer, is to make many precious Buddhist teachings accessible for Westerners. Having practiced as a healer for 20 years, Lama Jinpa is a founding director of the School of Tibetan Healing Chö (www.tibetancho.com) and is currently completing a book on chö for Snow Lion, while translating many precious Tibetan texts. His medical/healing website is found at www.drasahersh.com.