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His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Our Founder
Khenchen Rinpoche Konchog Gyaltshen.

A Scholar of the
Drikung Kagyu Lineage

We are Honored to Host

The Venerable
Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche
for a very rare and precious visit.
December 31st, 2011 - January 1st, 2012

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Khenchen Rinpoché was born in the village of Tsari in southwestern Tibet in 1946. Tsari is an important pilgrimage site in Tibet, being the sacred place of the enlightened-mind of Vajravarahi and Rinpoché lived there until 1959 when his family was forced to flee to India due to the political unrest of the time. While in India, Rinpoché attended school and eventually took the complete monk's vows from Kyabjé Kalu Rinpoché in 1968. He was among the first batch of students to graduate from the then newly established Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Varanasi. Among the great teachers Rinpoché received extended teachings from were the 16th Karmapa and Khunu Lama Rinpoché. Subsequently, Rinpoché entered into the traditional 3-year retreat with a group of young Drikung Kagyu lamas (including His Holiness Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang Rinpoché) under the guidance of Vajradhara Kyungka Rinpoché.

In the 1980s, Rinpoché arrived in the US and spent the next twenty years building and supporting the TMC and other centers and groups in the US. During these years, Khenchen Rinpoché translated critical Drikung Kagyu practices, prayers and histories into English and publishing several highly regarded books such as the translation of Jewel Ornament of Liberation, Garland of Mahamudra Practices and Jewel Treasury of Advice. This priceless work formed the essential base from which the holy Dharma could be taught and practiced. His most recent book, which he authored was the Complete Guide to the Buddhist Path.

In recent years, Khenchen Rinpoché spends his time traveling in order teach the Dharma, dividing his time between teaching at traditional Tibetan monasteries in India, Nepal and Tibet and at centers in Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Europe, South America and the US.

Dedication : "By both the innate root of virtue and the roots of virtue accumulated in the three times by myself and all sentient beings, may I and all sentient beings quickly attain the precious, unsurpassable, authentic, perfected wisdom."

Khenmo Trinlay Chödron Karuna

Words of wisdom from our Center's
spiritual guide. Khenmo visits us for a couple months each winter, bringing her scholarly teachings and warm compassionate support to our practices.

Approaching Buddhism

Buddhism is a religion for the curious, for those not satisfied by pat answers to lifes questions.

For more than 25 centuries, Buddhists have enjoyed a spirit of free inquiry and debate, encouraged by the Buddha himself. One time, he was approached by a group of people, called the Kalamas, who were tired of the steady stream of itinerant preachers who preached contradictory ideas. They were confused and didn't know which one to listen to. As recorded in the Kalama Sutra they complained to the Buddha, "There are some . . . [who] expound and explain only their own doctrines, they despise, revile, and pull to pieces the doctrines of others. Others come here and also expound and explain their own doctrines. The doctrines of others they despise, revile, and pull to pieces. When we listen to them, Sir, we have doubt and wavering as to which of these worthy ones speak truth and which speak falsehood."

The Buddhas reply to them has colored the Buddhist approach to doctrine ever since. He said, "It is proper for you, Kalamas, to doubt, to be uncertain; uncertainty has arisen in matters that are doubtful. . . . Do not go by revelation; do not go by tradition; do not go by hearsay; do not go on the authority of sacred texts; do not go on the grounds of pure logic; do not go by a view that seems to be rational; do not go by reflecting on mere appearances; do not go along with a considered view because you already agree with it; do not go along on the grounds that the person is competent; do not go along [thinking] this recluse is our teacher. Kalamas, when you yourselves know that these things are unwholesome, these things are blameworthy; these things are censured by the wise; and when undertaken and observed, these things lead to harm and ill, only then should you abandon them."

I often say that there is no sign at any Buddhist temple that says "Check your brains at the door." Buddhism is not about accepting dogma on blind faith. Such faith is regarded as superficial and a fault to be overcome in short, as spiritual laziness. Of course, faith may be necessary in the beginning, but over time it is gradually replaced by unshakable confidence based in personal experience.

How does this come about? There is a three-part process of listening, contemplating, and meditating. When we first listen to or read teachings, we just take in the raw information, and try to understand what the teacher or author saying. Then we contemplate what has been learned, mull it over, and test it. We ask: Does it make sense? Will I be happier if I adopt this point of view? We try it out and see for ourselves what works and what doesn't. Finally, we meditate on what we have adopted in order to integrate the new ideas into our mind. The founder of the Drigung Kagyu, Jigten Sumgön, described meditation as 'habituation.' So, we use meditation to bring our daily conduct more closely into line with our ideals. We systematically cultivate compassion, wisdom, or loving-kindness, for example, so that we can face adversity more positively.

Khenmo Trinlay
Jan 2011, TMC Gainesville

The Tibetan Meditation Center (TMC) of Gainesville, Florida was formed by the Venerable Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche in 1999 along with other centers throughout the U.S. The Tibetan Meditation Center is a center belonging to the Drikung Kagyu lineage. (more info here)

Meditation and practice at the The Tibetan Meditation Center -Gainesville are informal and comfortable. Everyone is welcome to practice and benefit from the treasury of the lineage teachers.

See the EVENTS page for both regular practice schedules and upcoming events.

His Eminence Garchen Triptrul Rinpoche

" For The Benefit of All Beings "

Link to movie on YouTube

For the past 3 years Garchen Rinpoche’s extraordinary life and teachings have been documented on film in 14 countries: U.S.A., Canada, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal, India, Chile, Germany, Sweden, Israel, Hong Kong, Tibet and China. Included is an unprecedented interview, with Garchen Rinpoche speaking candidly about his life.

Also captured is a rare interview with Venerable Drubwang Rinpoche, a great yogi who passed away in December 2007.

click on EVENTS above to
see upcoming activities

Drikung Kagyu Symbol

The Sun, the Moon, and the Hung Syllable

Translated by Khenpo Konchok Tamphel

Texts used in practice can be obtained directly from

Vajra Publication http://www.vajrapub.org,

Conference of spiritual leaders in Dharamsala
May 2009

A ll the religious heads came to visit the Dalai Lama’s palace. The above picture was taken in front of the Dalai Lama’s sitting room and shows (from left): H.H. Lungtok Tenpa’i Nyima, H.H. Sakya Trizin, H.H. the Dalai Lama, H.H. the Karmapa, H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang.

Article here.

Karmapa visits Kagyu College

The College’s monks and Khenpos were overwhelmed to receive and welcome His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa in the Shedra (Kagyu College). The Karmapa visited the College Temple and at the request of Khenchen Konchok Gyaltsen Rinpoche he gave a brief speech to the College students. In his address, the Karmapa reminded his audience of the great importance of having such an ancient lineage practice like the Drikung Kagyu. He also stated that the Drikung Community plays a vital role in the preservation and prospering of the Kagyu sect, which is one of the four major religious schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He also gave his perception on dealing and studying Buddhism. At the conclusion he reminded us, how lucky we are to have His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chungtsang Rinpoche as supreme heads and their unsurpassable blessings.

Article here.