Khentrul Lodrö Thayé Rinpoche is the abbot of Mardo Tashi Choling in Eastern Tibet. He established a retreat center there. He created the shedra, a formal Buddhist monastic teaching, under the direct guidance of his teacher Khenpo Jigmed Phuntsok Rinpoche. He directs the education and spiritual practice of three hundred monks, seventy advanced-degree candidates, sixty children, and twenty full-time retreatants.
Early life and education
Early life
At the age of seven he began the formal practice of the Dharma by taking monastic ordination as a supportive foundation. He left his home and family when he was a young child to go and live with his uncle at the monastery.
Education
Kentrul studied and practiced under Rinpoche for over twenty years at Serthar monastery. He studied in Katog Gonpa under Katog Moktsa Rinpoche in Tibet at Katog Gonpa monastery, as well as with Penor Rinpoche for five years, in Namdroling Monastery in India. He earned a khenpo degree in each of the three monasteries.
Recognition
H.H. Moktsa Rinpoche formally recognized Khentrul Rinpoche as a reincarnation of Katog Drubtobchhenpo Namkha Gyamtso, a mahasiddha of the Katog lineage. An elaborate enthronement ceremony was held for him in Katog Gonpa's mother monastery in 2006 amongst an assembly of monks, lamas, khenpos, and laypersons. Thus, he is called Khentrul—someone who is both a khenpo and a tulku. He received the entire Nyingt'hig lineage, as well as thousands of empowerments, scriptural transmissions, and explanations on the pith instructions for Great Perfection practice. In addition, Khentrul received the rarely bestowed oral transmission of Khenpo Ngakchung's Nyingt'hig lineage. From Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche, Dodrubchen Rinpoche, Penor Rinpoche, and Katok Moktza Rinpoche, he received all of the empowerments and scriptural transmissions for the Kama and Termacycles of the Nyingma school. He was invited to the U.S. by Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, primarily to create and teach a shedra program at Rigdzin Ling. He created an annual shedra at Chagdud Rinpoche's Gonpa center at Rigdzin Ling in Junction City, California in 2003. The Shedra has continued since then and now takes place at Katog Rit'hröd, Katog Mountain Retreat center in Northwest Arkansas. As a highly respected teacher, Khentrul Rinpoche attracts thousands of students worldwide. The first American practice center was founded in Ashland, Oregon in 2003. He now has multiple practice centers in the U.S. He founded a non-profit organization, Katog Choling Tibetan Cultural Center for Tibetan studies in Lafayette, Louisiana in 2004. In 2007 one hundred and twenty acres was donated to Katog Choling to serve North American students. As of 2018 the land has increased to almost four hundred acres of contiguous properties. This includes a three year retreat center, a wellness center, and a large central temple and retreat facilities.
