(1835 – 1904)

Dudjom LIngpa was a great Nyingma master and tertön whose revelations fill twenty volumes. He was considered to be the emanation of Khye'u Chung Lotsawa, one of the twenty-five disciples of Guru Rinpoche. His immediate incarnation, born even before he himself passed away.

(1904-1987)

Dudjom Rinpoche was one of the most outstanding scholars and meditation masters of recent times. He inspired awe in those who met him in addition to devotion and deep affection. After the flight of the Tibetans into exile, it was Dudjom Rinpoche who was the first master to be accorded the title of Supreme Head of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, the ‘oldest’ school introduced into Tibet in the 8th century by Guru Padmasambhava.

Dudjom Rinpoche was born into a noble family in the south-eastern Tibetan province of Pemakö – one of the four ‘hidden lands’ of Padmasambhava. He was recognized as the incarnation of Dudjom Lingpa (1835-1904), a famous tertön or discoverer of concealed terma or ‘treasures,’ particularly those related to the practice of Vajrakilaya. Dudjom Lingpa had intended to visit southern Tibet to reveal the sacred land of Pemakö, but as he was unable to do so, he predicted that his successor would be born there and reveal it himself.

(1950-2018)

Shenphen Dawa Rinpoche took over leadership of the Dudjom lineage after the parinirvana of his father, HH Dudjom Rinpoche, in 1987.  Shenphen Rinpoche had been his father’s senior attendant and English translator for many years so he became a wise and excellent teacher.  Dudjom Rinpoche was very well known to many western students of Tibetan Buddhism but Shenphen Rinpoche decided to function as a hidden yogi, emphasizing teaching his many students rather than traveling around to give talks or write texts.

Shenphen Rinpoche is the first born son of Dudjom Rinpoche from his second marriage to Sangyum Rikzin Wangmo. Shenphen Rinpoche led the Dudjom lineage from 1987 until his parinirvana in 2018. 

(1975 - )

Shenphen’s first born son from his first marriage, honors our Center because he knows all of us are his father’s long-time students.  While almost all other Centers feature their current or former teacher, they are not openly named or identified as Dudjom Tersar Centers.  This distinction makes us different which could be a reason for us to attract new Sangha members.

(1942 - )

The leader of our Center, Lama Pema Chokyi (Gretchen Groth), was one of Shenphen Rinpoche’s closest students, recording, transcribing, and editing his teachings and doing many special tasks for him over 35 years at his request.  Lama Pema has recently completed a 3 year 6 month 3 day retreat at Pema Osel Ling Retreat Center in California under the guidance of Dudjom Sangye Pema Shepa Rinpoche — the Dudjom Yangsi – until his parinirvana (2020) and then under Lama Sonam Tseringwho leads the Pema Osel Ling Retreat Center.