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Biography —
Her Eminence Minling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche

Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche is the daughter of the His Holiness Mindrolling Trichen, head of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism, and one of the most renowned Tibetan lamas currently teaching in the west. Born into the Mindrolling lineage, which throughout its history has had many accomplished female masters, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche was recognized at the age of two by His Holiness the 16th Karmapa as the re-incarnation of the Great Dakini of Tsurphu, Khandro Ugyen Tsomo, who was one of the most renowned female masters of her time. Thus, the present Khandro Rinpoche came to hold the lineages of both Nyingma and Kagyu schools.

Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche received teachings and transmissions from some of the most accomplished masters of the 20th century, including H.H. the Dalai Lama, H.H. Mindrolling Trichen, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, H.E. Trulzhig Rinpoche, H.E. Tenga Rinpoche, H.E. Tsetrul Rinpoche, and H.E. Tulku Ugyen Rinpoche.

Rinpoche has been teaching internationally for twelve years and teaches extensively in both Europe and North America, offering teachings from both the Kagyu and Nyingma schools. She has also established and heads the Samten Tse Retreat Centre in Mussoori, India which provides a place of study and retreat for monastics and western lay practitioners, with students from East and West living together in spiritual community. Currently 45 nuns and 25 western students are in residence at Samten Tse.

Rinpoche also heads various charitable projects and projects of Buddhist education and scholarship, providing an opportunity for monastics and western lay practitioners to work side by side in a variety of challenging settings. These include projects for health care and education in remote areas such as the leprosy project, and the Dharmashri Journal, a journal featuring writings of Tibetan masters. Rinpoche is also actively involved with the Mindrolling Monastery in India.

In 2003, Rinpoche's first book entitled This Precious Life: Tibetan Buddhist Teachings on the Path to Enlightenment, was published by Shambhala Publications.

Venerable Jetsün Khandro RinpocheVenerable Khandro Rinpoche