Our Teachers

Tromge Jigme Rinpoche is the resident teacher of Ati Ling. The son of the late master His Eminence Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, at a young age Jigme Rinpoche was recognized by H.E. Chokling Rinpoche as his previous life’s son Tsewang Norbu, who was a reincarnation of Yudra Nyingpo, one of Guru Rinpoche’s twenty-five disciples, and an emanation of Chenrezig.

Rinpoche was born in 1965 in Orissa, India, where he had the good fortune to receive a traditional Buddhist education. He has had extensive training in the teachings and practices of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism and has studied with many great masters of our time including H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and H.H. Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche. He also studied philosophy with Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche and at the philosophy school of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, late head of the Nyingma school.

Rinpoche emigrated to the United States in 1988. After completing the traditional three-year retreat under the guidance of his father, he moved to Ati Ling in 1992 and became its resident lama.

Rinpoche travels throughout North and South America and Asia giving teachings and counseling people with his gentle wisdom and warmth. As authorized by his teacher the Dzogchen master Khenpo Ngagchung of eastern Tibet, and at Chagdud Khadro’s request, Jigme Rinpoche now offers Dzogchen teachings in the context of the annual retreats that Chagdud Rinpoche initiated in Brazil.

Besides the monasteries in Tibet and Nepal for which he is jointly responsible, he is the founder and director of the Padmasambhava Peace Institute, and director of the Mahakaruna Foundation, an international charitable organization founded by H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche that offers assistance to the old, sick and impoverished in various parts of Asia, and also works to preserve Tibetan Buddhist culture.

Lama Padma Yontan Gyatso (Richard Baldwin) began his formal Buddhist training in India in 1970 with the outstanding meditation master, the late Venerable Kalu Rinpoche. Returning to the U.S., he entered the Buddhist Studies Program at the University of Washington.  At this time he also received many teachings at the feet of the late Venerable Dezhung Rinpoche, a master of all lineages. He received his degree in 1974 and subsequently embarked on a number of meditation retreats. In 1982 he became a student of H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche. In 1996, Chagdud Rinpoche ordained him as a lama and appointed him as the teacher at Chagdud Gonpa Amrita, Seattle.

Lama Padma teaches and practices with meditation and study groups throughout the Northwest, including several Buddhist groups in state prisons.

Having translated from Tibetan the extensive Tromge Chenrezig text, in 2004 Lama Padma deepened his connection with the Chenrezig practice when he traveled to Tibet and met with the terton Tromge Dechhen Kyabje Wangpo, who acknowledged him as a lineage-holder of the practice. After completing extensive retreats over several years as directed by Tromge Dechhen Rinpoche, Lama Padma was authorized to offer the empowerment for the Tromge Chenrezig.

Additionally, Lama Padma is coordinating the development of Chokdrup Ling, a 320 acre retreat center in the Four Corners area of Southwest Colorado.

Born in Denver, U.S.A. in 1948, Lama Norbu (David Everest) was educated and worked as an electrical engineer during his early years.

He met his teacher, H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche in 1980 and, after completing the cycle of Dzogchen teachings and retreats, was ordained a lama in the Vajrayana tradition in 1995.

For twenty years he worked with his teacher to carry out various projects such as the construction of retreat centers and the Khadro Ling temple in Southern Brazil. He later completed a solitary two year retreat under Rinpoche's guidance, and was encouraged to give teachings and share his experience in integrating Buddhist principles with the challenges of daily life.

He and his wife, Lama Tsering Everest, currently live in São Paulo, Brazil, where he divides his time between the construction of the Odsal Ling Temple, various children's projects, and teaching.