About Mipham Institute
The Mipham Institute is created in order to preserve and transmit the authentic vajrayana lineage of Tibetan Buddhism by making it possible for students to study the Tibetan language and the Dharma teachings in deep and authentic way. The Institute will follow closely the model of a Tibetan shedra, that is, in depth study of the Indian classic treatises with commentaries by the great Tibetan lineage teachers, always in light of treating Dharma teachings as pith instructions to be applied in practice in accordance with the living tradition. In order to honor the lineage teachings as we have received them, a great emphasis will be placed on learning Tibetan as the key to being able to understand and transmit the teachings in an authentic way. Our goal is to be able to further the lineage teachings as received from our own lineage teachers, Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche, in an authentic and comprehensive way.
Vision
Lineage Teachers
Venerable Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche
Born in Eastern Tibet, the Venerable Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche graduated as khenpo, or abbot, from Riwoche monastery’s shedra. After fleeing Tibet in the late 1950s, he served as a professor and head of Nyingma studies at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies. He moved to the United States at the request of H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, and with his brother founded the Padmasambhava Buddhist Center. In addition to his collected works in Tibetan, which fill three Tibetan volumes, Khenchen Rinpoche has shared the Buddhist teachings through dozens of English language books. He passed away among marvelous signs of realization in 2010. More details are available in his short biography, which can be found HERE.
Venerable Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche
Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche was born in Eastern Tibet. After he escaped to India with his family, he studied at several distinguished institutions, including the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies and Nyingmapa University in West Bengal, and was enthroned as Khenpo by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche. Khenpo Tsewang Rinpoche moved to the United States to support the activities of H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, and with his brother he founded the Padmasambhava Buddhist Center and worked tirelessly to share the Buddha’s teachings in many countries. Khenpo Rinpoche’s own publications include works of devotional poetry, history and Buddhist philosophy. More details are available in his short biography, which can be found HERE.
Our Team
Philippe Turenne
Director
Philippe was born in Québec City, Canada, and has studied with the Khenpo Rinpoches at Padmasambhava Buddhist Center since 1996. After earning both a B.A. and PhD in Buddhist Studies from McGill University, he relocated to Nepal to join Rangjung Yeshe Institute, where he served as a professor before advancing to Institute Principal. He has participated in various translation projects such as the 84000 project, the Khyentse Vision Project, and Dharma Samudra publications, and has taught Tibetan at McGill University, RYI, and Padmasambhava Buddhist Center.
Chonyi Gyatso
Assistant
Chonyi is from Eugene, Oregon. She completed her Bachelors at UC Berkeley in Computer Science in 2017, and is currently based in Upstate New York.
