January 23 - February 1, 2026
Winter Teachings
with Drupon Rinpoche and Khenpo Tenzin Nyima Rinpoche
Drong Ngur Jangchubling is excited to announce the dates and teaching topics for the 2026 Winter Teachings. This special annual event will feature empowerments and teachings from Drong Ngur’s spiritual director and resident lama, Drupon Thinley Ningpo Rinpoche and special guest lama, Khenpo Tenzin Nyima Rinpoche. Specific dates for each set of teachings and registration links will be released shortly.Online and In-Person
Drupon Thinley Ningpo Rinpoche will bestow the empowerment of Namgyalma, who is one of the three main long life deities. Namgyalma is a deity of profound power and compassion, and through her practice one is able to purify all karmas and obstacles to spiritual health and longevity. The opportunity to receive this empowerment is a special blessing on the path of spiritual healing and promoting a long, healthy precious human birth.
During the Winter Teachings Drupon Thinley Ningpo Rinpoche will also give teachings on the Bardo, the intermediate state between death and rebirth. These teachings are critical for all practitioners to prepare for the inevitable transition, and are a special method to not only learn about the details of the process of death and rebirth, but to receive special instruction to achieve enlightenment through that process.
As H.H. Chetsang Rinpoche has said: “The study and practice of the bardo in general enables beings to enter the path of liberation, and in particular is useful to those who fear suffering at the time of death. If one can practice the bardo, one will experience the Dharma-as-such without obscuration, and the clear Mind-as-such. Then, one can approach the moment of death with joy and confidence.”
Finally, Khenpo Tenzin Nyima Rinpoche will kindly bestow the Three Roots empowerment from the Yangzab terma cycle. The Damcho Gongpa Yangzab (Innermost Profound Realization of the Sublime Dharma) is a treasure terma that is a special cycle of teachings hidden by Guru Padmasambhava and revealed by the Drikung throne holder Rinchen Phuntsok. The Three Roots practice is the main deity practice from this cycle, and is often considered the gateway to this precious set of teachings. The Three Roots are the guru, yidam deity, and dakini; specifically in the Yangzab they are the guru as Guru Padmasambhava, the yidam as Hayagriva, and the dakini as Vajravarahi. In this practice we cultivate an understanding of our nature as the guru, yidam, and dakini as one, and by doing so are able to cultivate a pure view of the outer world and all sentient beings in it.
Drupon Thinley Ningpo Rinpoche
Drupon Thinley Ningpo Rinpoche was born in 1962 into a nomadic family in the region of Nag-chu in Eastern Tibet at the height of the religious and cultural persecution of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Following the death of Mao Zedong in 1976 and the subsequent Buddhist revival in Tibet, Drupon Rinpoche became inspired to devote his life to the spiritual path. He was thoroughly involved in the work of rebuilding the monastery in his local community, and in 1988 he went on a year-long pilgrimage, visiting holy places throughout Tibet. This journey culminated in his dramatic escape from Tibet, a perilous journey on foot across the Himalayas from Tibet to India. Once safely in India, he entered Janchubling Monastery in Dehradun where he studied Buddhist philosophy and served as a disciplinarian for six years. In 1996, he entered a rigorous period of solitary meditation and contemplation known as the traditional Three-Year Retreat. Soon after, he was given the title “Drupon” which means “master of spiritual attainment.”
Khenpo Tenzin Nyima Rinpoche
Venerable Khenpo Tenzin Nyima was born in 1973. At the age of five, his grandmother and uncle taught him the basics of the Tibetan language. At fourteen, he met the Venerable Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche in whom he took refuge and who gave him the hair cutting ceremony marking his transition to a monk.
Starting at the age of fifteen, he entered the Drikung Kagyu Jangchub Ling Institute in Dehra Dun India for nine year curriculum of Buddhist Philosophy. During this period he has taken the opportunities to go to Dzongsar Institute to study on several occasions. In addition, he was one of the monks chosen to participate in the special ceremony in front of H.H. Dalai Lama during the Inauguration of the Jangchub Ling Institute in 1992. He entered the Essay Competition held by Tibet Foundation, London, and won the third-place prize. This contest was for Tibetans worldwide under twenty-four and winners were awarded scholarship and certificate for their academic excellence. After completion of his nine-year study in the Jangchub Ling Institute, He was awarded the title of Khenpo (equivalent to a Doctor of Philosophy) by H. H. Drikung Kyabgon Konchog Tenzin Kunsang Thrinle Lhundrup Rinpoche upon his graduation on March 2, 1998. Referred by Lamchen Rinpoche, Khenpo Tenzin Nyima immediately went to Khenchen Petse Rinpoche’s three-month program held in Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche’s monastery in Nepal, where Khenchen Petse Rinpoche granted the entire set of Secret Essence (Guhyaarbha Tantra) empowerment and teachings. Khenpo Tenzin Nyima thus received the rare and auspicious higher tantric teachings completely.
Ven. Khenpo Tenzin Nyima eventually immigrated to the USA. He currently resides and teaches at Gampopa Vajrayana Buddhist Center founded by Ven. Lamchen Gyalpo Rinpoche, from whom he learned Drigung Kagyu Lineage uncommon teachings as well as Dzogchen with retreats. He is the editor-in-chief for Lamchen Rinpoche’s Rare Dharma Preservation Project.
Over the years Khenpo Tenzin has spread the nectar of Dharma by actively engaging in teaching internationally. Khenpo Tenzin assists and resides with Lamchen Glypo Rinpcohe in the USA.
Virginia Blum
Virginia Blum has been a practicing Buddhist and meditator since 1999. She has studied under and worked closely as a translator with many lineage-holding Tibetan masters. In addition to completing the traditional Drikung Kagyu Ngöndro, she has years of extensive meditation training in both solitary and group retreat settings. While her training has been primarily focused on the Tibetan tradition, since 2016 she has also studied and practiced intensively within the Vipassana tradition of early Buddhism and regularly attends month-long meditation retreats at The forest Refuge, IMS and Spirit Rock.
Important Event Information
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One onsite bedroom, indoor camping, and some nearby home stays are available. Please reserve during the registration.
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