Kyabgön Phakchok Rinpoche

Phakchok Rinpoche was born in 1981 to Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche and Sangyum Dechen Paldrön, a grandson of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, in the family line of the treasure revealer Chokgyur Lingpa. He was recognised as the reincarnation of the 6th Kyapgön Phakchok Rinpoche, one of the three throne holders of the Taklung Kagyu seat at Riwoche Monastery in Kham. The 4th Phakchok Rinpoche was a disciple and patron of Chokgyur Lingpa.

Training

Samye Mandala names his root gurus as Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche and Soktse Rinpoche. Gomde adds that he studied with Dudjom Rinpoche, Penor Rinpoche and Trulshik Rinpoche among others, and that he was ordained by the Dalai Lama.

Roles

Gomde describes him as the head of the Taklung Kagyu lineage, head of Riwoche Monastery in Tibet, abbot of a monastery at Chapagaon in the Kathmandu Valley, and Vajra Master of Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling, where his father was Master of Vajrayana Ceremonies and his uncle Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche is abbot.

Samye Mandala says he has devoted his life to spreading the teachings of Guru Rinpoche, particularly the Chokling Tersar. He named his organisation Samye, after Samye Monastery, whose founding Guru Rinpoche guided. With Erric Solomon he wrote Radically Happy: A User’s Guide to the Mind (Shambhala). Gomde describes his teaching as direct, accessible and playful.