Bringing Buddhism to the West

Trijang Rinpoche had seminal and far-reaching influence on Tibetan Buddhism’s transmission into the West. The FPMT website states, "The spreading of Dharma in the West is directly and indirectly connected with Trijang Rinpoche, due to his own teachings, as well as the activities of his disciples, including Lama Yeshe, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Geshe Rabten, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and many others."

Towards the end of his life he had many Western disciples himself and there are many thousands more who, though they have not met him personally, are still following his teachings through the teachings they have received from their own teachers, his disciples. In the Fall of 1966 he was invited to the West and visited Switzerland for medical treatment; then he visited Germany, England, France and so on, wherever Tibetans lived, giving teachings on tour. He was invited back to Switzerland in 1968 to consecrate a new Tibetan monastery, and travelled there with Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, and this was followed by another Western tour, returning to India in the Spring of 1969.

He encouraged Geshe Rabten, Geshe Kelsang and many other of his closest disciples to bring Je Tsongkhapa’s Dharma to Westerners, pointing out that "such efforts are never in vain, but are an important contribution to the Dharma and the well-being of sentient beings."

Trijang Rinpoche had also requested Geshe Kelsang Gyatso to go to England in 1977, giving "many predictions that there would be great results" and also giving him permission to present Gelug Dharma in a way that was suitable for Westerners but without losing any of the meaning of the teachings.

Despite his Tibetan background, Kyabje Trijang Dorjechang believed in Westerners’ ability to gain deep experience of Buddha’s Sutras and Tantras within their own countries and cultures, and encouraged his close disciples to "give to those who were mature enough to receive some Tantric teachings and initiations on top of the essential Dharma teachings like Lamrim, Lojong and great philosophical treatises."

Trijang Rinpoche was also the first Tibetan master to meet a Pontifax of Rome, when he met Pope Paul the Sixth in 1963.

Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche

Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche’s current incarnation, Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche, is now the 18th recognized incarnation in a long lineage of eminent Indian and Tibetan masters.

Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche was officially recognized by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on April 23, 1985, before going on to study under some of Gelug’s most highly revered teachers, his root Guru the late Kyabje Lati Rinpoche and Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche. He is now continuing his studies under the supreme guidance of H.E. Dagpo Rinpoche, H.E. Yongyal Rinpoche and study helper Geshe Lobsang Phuntsok.

As the only person in the world permitted to practice Dorje Shugden amidst the Dalai Lama’s current ban on the Protector, Trijang Rinpoche has been at the forefront of this very difficult controversy. As such, he currently lives a quiet, humble life in America.

Though he is still young, Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche is already beginning to shine forth as the next generation of supreme teachers who will lead the way. He is currently the spiritual director of Trijang Buddhist Institute in Vermont, USA, guiding all activities of the organization, for both monastics and lay people.