In 1959, because of the political situation in Tibet, Khenchen Rinpoche fled to India with his family. The family then settled in Darjeeling, where Rinpoche began his education. Even at a young age, he was an excellent and dedicated student, and he was able to complete his middle school studies in less than the average time.

At about this same time a new university, the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, opened in Varanasi, India. Determined to be among its first students, Khenchen Rinpoche traveled to Varanasi in October 1967 to seek admission. He then began a nine-year course of study that included Madhyamika, Abhidharma, Vinaya, the Abbisamayalankara, and the Uttaratantra, as well as history, logic, and Tibetan grammar.  In early 1987, he had the good fortune to take full monastic ordination from the great Kalu Rinpoche, and, shortly after graduating from the Institute, he received teachings from the Sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa on the realization songs of the Indian mahasiddhas.

Even after completing this long and arduous course of study, Khenchen Rinpoche wanted only to deepen his knowledge and practice of the Dharma. With the same intensity that he brought to his earlier studies, Rinpoche sought out and received teachings and instructions from great Buddhist masters. One was the Venerable Khunu Lama Rinpoche, with whom Khenchen Rinpoche studied two works of Gampopa: The Jewel Ornament of Liberation and The Precious Garland of the Excellent Path. Rinpoche’s studies with the Venerable Khunu Lama also included mahamudra and many of the songs of Milarepa.

In all his studies, The Jewel Ornament of Liberation is one of the texts that Khenchen found to be most inspiring.  Lord Gampopa lays out the teachings in a clear and systematic way that is understandable to beginners.  At the same time, the work is such profound depth that scholars and practitioners can study it over and over and still not fully grasp its meaning.  He has said on several occasions, "Anyone who knows the Jewel Ornament well can say that they really understand Buddhism."

Maintaining a balance between theoretical understanding and the practice of meditation, Khenchen Rinpoche began the traditional three-year retreat in 1978 under the guidance of the enlightened master Khyunga Rinpoche. During this time, he was able to deepen and enhance his understanding of The Fivefold Path of Mahamudra, the Six Yoga of Naropa and the profound Gong Chik text of Lord Jigten sumgon. He also received many other transmissions.

In 1985, Khenchen Rinpoche traveled to the main seat of the Drikung Kagyu lineage, Drikung Thil, in Tibet. There he was able to receive personal blessings, as well as instructions and transmissions of mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa, from the enlightened master, the Venerable Pachung Rinpoche.

In 1982, the force of karma and the requests of many practitioners combined to bring Khenchen Rinpoche to the United States. By late 1983, the Tibetan Meditation Center was well established in Washington, DC. Their original location was the site of innumerable teachings, practices, retreats and ceremonies.  In September 1984, and again in 1987, the young Center was blessed with personal visits and teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  Through Khenchen Rinpoche's and the Center's efforts, Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche visited later in 1987, and people in several states were able to receive benefit from his teachings and presence.

Wanting the teachings of Dharma to reach as many people as possible, Khenchen Rinpoche has quickly adapted himself to Western forms of communication. He has made appearances on television, been a guest on many radio programs, lectured extensively at colleges and universities, and spoken to the public through countless newspaper articles.

Rinpoche’s compassion and dedication to the Dharma have taken him to all parts of the world. Rinpoche travels tirelessly, giving teachings, leading retreats and opening Dharma centers throughout North America, South America and Europe. He has established centers throughout the US and in Chile, and he frequently visits in Europe, countries like Germany, Italy, Austria and Sweden, as well as Southeast Asia.  Between 1983 and 1990, Khenchen Rinpoche single-handedly translated critical Drikung Kagyu meditation practices, prayers and histories into English. Because of his efforts, Western students are now able to read and perform the Chakrasamvara, Vajrayogini, Guru Yoga, Chöd, Green and White Tara, Chenrezik, Medicine buddha, and other practices in their own language.

In November 1991, Khenchen Rinpoche and the Tibetan Meditation Center moved to Frederick, Maryland.  Nestled inside a state park, the Center is now situated on four wooded acres.  A small temple has been built there, and was consecrated by His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche in 1994.  With this larger facility and in surroundings more conducive to contemplation, Rinpoche has been able to benefit even more people with his teachings.  Now that Western students are becoming interested in long term retreat practice, plans are being made to establish a residential retreat center nearby.

A skilled and dedicated translator, Rinpoche has published seven books before this: Prayer Flags, In Search of the Stainless Ambrosia, The Garland of Mahamudra Practices, The Great Kagyu Masters, The Jewel Ornament of Liberation, The Jewel Treasury of Advice and The Transformation of Suffering. In this way, Rinpoche has been able to make important texts available to the public and to provide his students with a thorough and systematic training in the Dharma.  Rinpoche has taken enormous care to make each translations as precise as possible.  Because he himself has been so moved by these words that come directly from great masters, he believes it is critical that these same words be presented in an unadulterated manner.  For example, to translate this text, he and his editor went through the entire text word by word four times, sometimes spending an hour or more on a single phrase or sentence.  It is his sincere hope that, through this genuine effort, the readers will be inspired like himself by these precious Dharma teachings.

As a public figure, Khenchen Rinpoche continues to write, to translate texts, and to teach whenever requested. He has traveled to the Drikung Kagyu Institute in India, where he taught the Gong Chik to a group of about ninety monks and nuns. With the financial assistance of friends and students worldwide, Rinpoche was able to print 1,700 copies of the gong Chik and to distribute them to the students of the Institute, as well as monks, nuns and monasteries in India, Nepal and Tibet. In 1996, Rinpoche printed and distributed 1,500 copies of Essence of the Mahayana Teachings by Ngorje Repa, an important disciple of Lord Jigten sumgon.

Remembering the struggles of his early years, Khenchen Rinpoche inspires and supports monks, nuns and the laypeople in their practice of the Dharma and is always ready to assist them in whatever way he can. To turn the Dharma wheel, Khenchen sacrifices all his comfort.  He has recently spent several months traveling to various places in Tibet bestowing tiredlessly the precious Dharma teachings to local monks and nuns. To all, he gives of himself freely. With his heart and mind turned firmly towards the Dharma, he compassionately and with great patience shows the way. 

Drikung Bhande Dharmaradza (1704-1754), the author, was the reincarnation of the great Drikung Dharmakirti (1595-1659), the first of the Drikung Kyabgön Chungtsang Rinpoches. Revered for centuries as combined emanations of Manjushri and Guru Padmasambhava, these great lamas—together with the Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang Rinpoche—have held the throne of the Drikung Kagyu lineage from the 17^th century up to the present day.  In this book, Dharmaradza maps out, in verse, the entire structure of the Buddhist path. The teachings given here are honest and direct, covering topics from impermanence to how the disciplines and vows of the three yanas may be practiced without conflict or contradiction.  In this skillful translation by Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche, one can find all essential teachings of the Buddha.

Drikung Abbot Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche Enthroned as Khenchen

by Victoria Huckenpahler (from Snow Lion summer 2001 newsletter)

Khenpo Konchog Gyaltshen, teacher and author, whose glowing smile and down-to-earth presence have endeared him to students worldwide, was elevated earlier this year to the status of Khenchen (Great Scholar) by H.H. Chetsang Rinpoche, head of the Drikung Kagyu. He is the only member of that lineage to bear the title.

On 14 May, the event was celebrated at the Tibetan Meditation Center in Frederick, Maryland, which Rinpoche had founded (originally in Washington, DC) in 1982. The festivities included a Lama Chöpa (Guru Puja and Tsok Offering), remarks by Khenchen Rinpoche, and a salutation by the Center’s President.

While the traditional dresil (sweetened rice) and Tibetan tea were served, Rinpoche thanked the audience, some of whom had come from as far as Seattle, for joining him in celebrating the occasion which marks the culmination of his nearly two decades of service in this country and abroad. He then recounted the Dharma activities he has performed since the turn of the year, beginning in India where, besides being enthroned Khenchen, he taught the seminal Drikung work, Gong Chik. This historic teaching cycle formed part of the great Snake Year teachings, held only once every twelve years. This was followed by appearances in Taiwan, Los Angeles, Big Sur, and Tucson, among others. "The time was well spent," Rinpoche remarked. "I felt privileged, despite fatigue, the time changes, and the fact of having to change beds every week." And some, he noted with typical humor, "were harder than others!" He then cautioned that though we sometimes approach the Dharma as just another hobby, it is in fact the most important part of our lives. Nor is the cultural aspect key, but rather, the implementation of the practice. He concluded by reciting his daunting schedule for the remainder of the year which, besides the annual Spring retreat in Frederick, includes an around-the-world tour, starting with a pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash, followed by appearances in Malaysia, Europe and Hawaii.

TMC President Paul Palmer then graciously recounted Rinpoche’s multitudinous achievements from the time he was ordained bhikshu (full monk) by Kalu Rinpoche, to his arrival in America nearly 20 years ago, until his present enthronement as Khenchen. Working in the early days in the US under conditions which Palmer termed "spartan," Rinpoche not only taught tirelessly, but translated numerous sadhanas, authored seven books of lineage prayers, and histories (including The Jewel Ornament of Liberation and the forthcoming The Garland of Mahamudra Practices), and twice hosted H.H. the Dalai Lama at the Center – all between teaching engagements in the North and South America, Europe and Asia. By popular demand he established additional Drikung centers around the world, thus making Dharma in general more available to the public, while establishing the Drikung lineage in particular as a solid, widespread presence. When the Tibetan Meditation Center moved from DC to its present, expanded quarters in Frederick, Rinpoche continued a back-breaking schedule of writing (the Center founded its own publishing company, Vajra Publications); hosting such eminent teachers as HH the Drikung Kyabgon, HE Garchen Rinpoche, and the yogi, Drubwang Konchog Norbu; ordaining Western monks and nuns; and establishing annual Spring Retreats. In addition, he has made smaller appearances at schools, colleges, and prisons, and has granted numerous interviews to the press. Because of his unflagging efforts, combined with the purchase of 36 acres of mountainside property in Frederick, the Center looks forward to a future in which it will doubtless draw retreatants from all over America. Palmer also remarked on Rinpoche’s unblemished maintenance of ethical discipline, a cherished trait in this time of degeneration, and one which has inspired the respect of visiting teachers, as well as the confidence and veneration of his students. The Drikung Kyabgon himself has noted that Rinpoche "protects his pure monk’s vows as fiercely as his own eyes," and Center members know that he has always avoided even the hint of administrative divisiveness. In this way he has taught as much by example as through formal instruction.

Rinpoche’s long-time followers are gratified that his back-breaking efforts, which for many ears were seemingly valued below their full worth, are now being acknowledged both officially by his recent enthronement, and by students around the world who are manifesting a growing eagerness to avail themselves of his gems of wisdom. Rinpoche’s Long Life Prayer reflects the sentiments and well-wishes of all his followers in the words; "You who are richly endowed with the glorious wealth of Dharma knowledge, who through reflecting and meditating, have actualized the self-aware absolute reality and shine with the hundred-thousand light rays of ethical discipline of the Buddha-Dharma, may you, Khenchen Ratna Dwaza, live long!"