Palpung and the Kenting Tai Situpa Lineage

Palpung: Mount of Excellence

In Tibetan, Palpung means Mount of Excellence, and was first used in 1727, when the Eighth Tai Situpa founded the great Palpung Thubten Chokor Ling Monastery in Tibet. The name conveys the vast magnitude of study and practice engaged in at the monastery. Palpung in Tibet is the Karma Kagyu mother monastery in Kham, and evolved into the center of the Rimé (non-sectarian) movement. All eight major practice traditions of Tibetan Buddhism are upheld in the Palpung tradition, with a particular emphasis on the Marpa Kagyu and Shangpa Kagyu.

Guru Vajradhara His Holiness Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa
Pema Donyo Nyinche Wangpo

12th-kenting-tai-situpa-rinpoche

The lineage of the Kenting Tai Situpas is traced to one of the main disciples of the Buddha, the Bodhisattva Maitreya. Since that time, there has been a successive chain of incarnations, a direct lineage that continues to the present day.

The Twelfth Kenting Tai Situpa is the current head of the Palpung lineage. Born in 1954 in Tibet to a family of farmers, he was recognized by His Holiness the Sixteenth Gyalwang Karmapa Rigpe Dorje at an early age and was one of his closest students. He in turn became the main teacher of HH the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley Dorje. The Twelfth Kenting Tai Situpa oversees a vast network of monasteries, retreat centers, and Dharma centers worldwide, and has made great contributions toward training the next generation of Buddhist masters, including Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. He is also a scholar, poet, calligrapher, artist, author, architect, and geomancer.

Lord Maitreya

Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava

Bang Tobchen

Dombi Heruka

Shri Singha

Darikapa

Gyim Shang Shab

Lochen Denma Tsemang

Marpa Lotsawa
(1012-1097)

Pangkhen Ozer Lama

Taranatha
(1575-1634)

Rabten Kunzang

Rinpoong Ngawang

Gonpo Tsultrim Nyingpo

Drogon Rechen
(1148-1218)

Naljor Yeshe Wangchuk
(1220-1281)

Rigowa Rinjung

Ta Shing Chen
(1345-1376)

Norbu Samphel

The 1st Kenting Tai Situpa – Chokyi Gyaltsen
(1377-1448)

The 2nd Kenting Tai Situpa – Tashi Namgyal
(1450-1497)

The 3rd Kenting Tai Situpa – Tashi Paljor

The 4th Kenting Tai Situpa – Mitrug Gocha
(1542-1585)

The 5th Kenting Tai Situpa – Chokyi Gyaltsen Gelek Palzang
(1586-1657)

The 6th Kenting Tai Situpa – Mipham Trinlay Rabten
(1658-1682)

The 7th Kenting Tai Situpa – Lekshe Mawai Nyima
(1683-1698)

The 8th Kenting Tai Situpa – Chokyi Jungne
(1700-1774)

The 9th Kenting Tai Situpa – Pema Nyingche Wangpo
(1774-1853)

The 10th Kenting Tai Situpa – Pema Kunzang Chogyal
(1854-1885)

The 11th Kenting Tai Situpa – Pema Wangchok Gyalpo
(1886-1952)

The Present 12th Kenting Tai Situpa – Guru Vajradhara His Holiness Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa Pema Donyo Nyinche Wangpo
(1954-)

Event News

Settling the Mind – the Practice of Calm Abiding

Lama Norgyal will be teaching on and leading the sangha in the chanting of Calling the Lama from Afar. Written by the great master Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye, this text is a powerful supplication to invoke the blessings of the lama and the great masters of all four Tibetan Buddhist lineages.

Dorje Phurba (Vajrakilaya) – Teaching Series led by Lama Lekshe Dorje

Lama Norgyal will be teaching on and leading the sangha in the chanting of Calling the Lama from Afar. Written by the great master Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye, this text is a powerful supplication to invoke the blessings of the lama and the great masters of all four Tibetan Buddhist lineages.

Dorje Phurba (Vajrakilaya) – Teaching Series led by Lama Lekshe Dorje

Lama Norgyal will be teaching on and leading the sangha in the chanting of Calling the Lama from Afar. Written by the great master Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye, this text is a powerful supplication to invoke the blessings of the lama and the great masters of all four Tibetan Buddhist lineages.

Amitabha Chanting for Liberating the Deceased and Benefiting Beings (Qing Ming) – 清明節法會

Palpung Thubten Chöling will be making prayers and offerings for our parents, ancestors, and the deceased, performing 2 days of practice including the offering of 1000 butterlamps, a special recitation of the Amitabha sadhana with tsok offerings, a fire puja for the deceased, and aspiration prayers for the well being of us and all other beings, especially those to whom we dedicate the practice by name, both living and deceased.

Our Teachers

Lama Norlha Rinpoche
Our Founder

Lama Tsering
Retreat Master

Lama Norgyal
Resident Lama

Stupas represent the enlightened mind. Traditionally it is said that building or maintaining a stupa is an exceptional means for accumulating merit. Our stupa overlooks the Hudson River, blessing its waters on their way to New York City and the sea.

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