Top right: Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö in a procession during the consecration of the Tsuk Lhakhang at the royal palace in Sikkim. Sogyal Rinpoche was the vajra master and, dressed in the traditional lhaché costume, is carrying the torma. On the left is Chokden. Behind Jamyang Khyentse are Tartsé Khenpo, Dr Trogawa Rinpoche, Ngari Tulku and Chakthak Tulku. Standing behind are Khandro Tséring Chödrön and Sogyal Rinpoche's sister Dechen.

Bottom right: A procession in Darjeeling when Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö was about to teach. Behind him are Sogyal Rinpoche, then the Queen Mother of Sikkim and Gyardak Rinpoche, one of Sogyal Rinpoche’s tutors. 

Left: Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö and Khandro Tséring Chödrön
Middle, bottom left: Mayum Tséring Wangmo and her sister Khandro Tséring Chödrön
Right & Middle, bottom right: Khandro Tséring Chödrön at Samdrup Podrang, a residence in Lhasa, south of the Jokhang, where Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö stayed in 1956 

Top from left to right:

1-2. On pilgrimage at Bodhgaya, the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment.

3-4. On pilgrimage at Sarnath, where the Buddha first turned the wheel of the Dharma. 

Bottom from left to right:

1. On the border of Sikkim and Tibet: (seated) Khandro Tsering Chödrön, Sogyal Rinpoche, Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, igyal Lakar, Tsewang Paljor, Ani Rilu

2. Khandro Tsering Chödrön in Sikkim

3. With Ling Tsang Gyalpo in Kalimpong (1979/80)

4. Carrying stones to build Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö's stupa, Sikkim, 1959 

Right column: In 1976 Sogyal Rinpoche accompanied Dudjom Rinpoche to the United States as translator and aide and invited him to Dzogchen Orgyen Chö Ling in London where he lived and taught for a whole month in 1979.

Middle column above: In 1973 Sogyal Rinpoche helped organize His Holiness the Dalai Lama's first ever visit to the west, in Rome, Switzerland and the UK.

Middle column below: Sogyal Rinpoche addresses the Dalai Lama and a gathering of  teachers from all Buddhist traditions, Westminster, London, 1981.

Right top: The 16th Gyalwang Karmapa at Orgyen Chö Ling, 1977

Right bottom: The 16th Gyalwang Karmapa and Sogyal Rinpoche at London Airport, 1977. Behind him an attendant carries the Black Crown. 

August 27th 1977 saw the opening of Sogyal Rinpoche's centre, Orgyen Chö Ling in 76 Princess Road, Kilburn, London.

In November 1977 the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa visits with Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and blesses the centre. He is the first of many great masters to give teachings there.

In 1981 Rigpa moves to a larger centre at St Paul's Crescent which is blessed by a visit from Tai Situ Rinpoche shortly after it opens. 

Rigpa's centre in Paris opened in 1978 in rue Burq. This centre was blessed by the presence of many great masters such as Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Kyabjé Ling Rinpoche, Kyabjé Dudjom Rinpoche, Dzogchen Rinpoche, Kyabjé Kalu Rinpoche and Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche. Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche gave the empowerments of Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro, Rigdzin Düpa, Yumka Dechen Gyalmo, Sogyal Phurba, Tendrel Nyesel, Sampa Lhundrupma and Barché Lamsel.

In 1982 & 1987 Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche stayed in Rigpa London, and gave empowerments and teachings including on Tsik Sum Ne Dek, Nyingtik Yabshi and Vajrakilaya. 

As well as Kyabjé Dudjom Rinpoche and the Gyalwang Karmarpa, Dzogchen Orgyen Chö Ling was blessed by visits from: Kyabjé Sakya Trizin who stayed for nearly 3 weeks in 1978; Sakya Dagchen Rinpoche in 1980; Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche with his son Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche in 1981 and several visits by Ato Rinpoche in 1980 and 1981.

The first Easter retreat was held in 1981 at Jouy, near Chartres in France and in subsequent years at Vinehall School, Robertsbridge; in Loch Lomond; at Newquay in Cornwall and in 1986 at Tenby in Wales, with Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche. In 1988 and '89 it was again in Newquay. In 1989 it is blessed by the presence of Kyabjé Sakya Trizin. 

Top row, left to right: 1981 Summer Retreat, Grasse, France ; 1984 Rigpa Centre, London; 1984 Summer Retreat, Dordogne, France ; 1984 California 

Bottom row, left to right: 1984 Summer Retreat Dordogne: Damchö Zangmo, Khandro Tséring Chödrön, Nyoshul Khenpo, Rabjam Rinpoche, Sogyal Rinpoche; 1988 Summer Retreat Alps: Khandro Tséring Chödrön & Sogyal Rinpoche 

During the summer of 1990, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche made his final, historic visit to Europe and to Rigpa’s summer retreat, held in Prapoutel in the French Alps. Many lamas and 1,500 students attended this retreat. Over ten days, Khyentse Rinpoche gave some of the most important transmissions for the teachings and practices of the Nyingma and Dzogchen tradition. Everything that happened seemed exceptionally auspicious. Sogyal Rinpoche was to write later: “A number of the masters present felt that through this act in the last year of his life, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was placing his seal definitively on the coming of these teachings to the West, and blessing their reception with the accumulated power of lifetimes of meditation.” 

Kyabjé Dodrupchen Rinpoche has made a number of visits to the West, and in 1975 gave the empowerment of Rigdzin Düpa at Sogyal Rinpoche's request in London. 

In 1989 he blessed Rigpa's retreat centre of Dzogchen Beara in Ireland and taught at Rigpa's summer retreat at Brunissard in the French Alps with Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, Dzogchen Rinpoche and Sogyal Rinpoche.

In 1991 he blessed the new London centre in Caledonian Rd. and joined the summer retreat at Chateau de Cassan in France. During this retreat, Dodrupchen Rinpoche gave many empowerments from the Longchen Nyingtik cycle, and visited and blessed L'Engayresque, the site of the future centre of Lerab Ling. 

In the summer of 1993, the second three-month retreat included the visit from Tibet of Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche, who, along with Sogyal Rinpoche, was recognized as an incarnation of Tertön Sogyal Lerab Lingpa. It was the first time the two masters had met.

Khenpo Jigphun gave empowerments including Tertön Sogyal’s termas, Tendrel Nyesel and Vajrakilaya, as well as giving Dzogchen teachings.

Khenpo Jikphun played an extremely important role in the revival of Buddhism in Tibet after the Cultural Revolution. In the later part of his life more than 10,000 students gathered around him at Larung Gar in Sertar in Eastern Tibet. 

Kyabjé Penor Rinpoche, who had been elected as supreme head of the Nyingma school in 1993, gave teachings and empowerments to Rigpa students in Paris and London and then travelled to Lerab Ling. He had given the Nyintik Yabshi empowerments once before at Rigpa's request in London in 1988, and now once again he gave them as well as Tendrel Nyesel, Dorje Drolö, Vajrakilaya and Minling Dorsem to the students assembled for the summer retreat. 

Khandro Tsering Chödrön had blessed Dzogchen Orgyen Chö Ling and the Rigpa centre in St. Paul's Crescent with her presence, and in 1996 she visited the centre in Caledonian Road, joining Sogyal Rinpoche and Alak Zenkar Rinpoche for the Dakini day tsok practice. In the summer she made her first visit to Lerab Ling for the summer retreats where Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche gave an elaborate empowerment of Chimé Pakmé Nyingtik. Neten Chokling Rinpoche, Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche and Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche also visited the retreat that year.

Khen Rinpoche was one of Sogyal Rinpoche’s most beloved teachers, he first taught Rigpa students in the Dordogne in the summer of 1984, after which he was present regularly and taught at many Rigpa retreats and gatherings over the next decade: in France, America, the United Kingdom and Germany, during His Holiness the Dalai Lama's teachings on Dzogchen in San Jose in 1989, Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's teachings at Prapoutel in 1990, and the Dalai Lama's inauguration of Dzogchen monastery in 1992. His last visit to Lerab Ling was in the summer of 1996. He is pictured (left) with Sogyal Rinpoche and Khandro Tséring Chödron in Sogyal Rinpoche's 'Holy Shrine Room' in Lerab Ling. 

During 1996 & 1997 Khenpo Pema Tséwang accompanied Sogyal Rinpoche, Dzogchen Rinpoche and Tulku Pegyal Rinpoche to retreats in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Munich.

In Lerab Ling he gave an empowerment of Gyu Sangwa Nyingpo and detailed teachings on it using Mipham Rinpoche's Essence of Clear Light commentary, this was the first time this tantra had been taught to western students in the west.

Chokling Rinpoche and Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche led a Vajrakilaya drüpchen whose conclusion was presided over by Dzogchen Rinpoche. Tulku Pegyal Rinpoche was at Lerab Ling for most of the summer and lead a phowa retreat. 

Sherab Özer Rinpoche—the incarnation of Orgyen Rigdzin Sempa Dorje, the main Dharma heir of the great master Nyala Pema Dündul—lived in the labrang at Kalzang Monastery, the seat of Nyala Pema Dündul, and later, of Tertön Sogyal Lerab Lingpa. In 1998, Sherab Özer Rinpoche stayed in Lerab Ling for several months giving teachings and empowerments. On August 12th 1998, Sherab Özer Rinpoche performed a simple, symbolic ceremony in which he offered the throne of Kalzang Monastery to Sogyal Rinpoche as the heir to Tertön Sogyal. 

In November 1999 Sogyal Rinpoche led an older students’ retreat and Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche came and gave a series of empowerments, including Vajrakilaya Yang Nying Pudri, to over five-hundred older students. He also founded the basis for a monastic sangha within Rigpa by ordaining the first nuns.

In 2003 Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche came to give most of the empowerments of Döjo Bumzang or 'The Excellent Wish-Granting Vase'. This is a collection of termas that was compiled by Terdak Lingpa (1646-1714) and his brother Lochen Dharmashri (1654-1718). It is considered a forerunner of the Rinchen Terdzö. 

Prior to His Holiness’s arrival, thirty of the seniormost monks from Namgyal Monastery led by Garje Khamtrul Rinpoche, conducted the complete drupchen and mendrup of Vajrakilaya, according to the Phurba Yang Nying Pudri, the terma revelation of Tertön Sogyal Lerab Lingpa. His Holiness the Dalai Lama took part in the final session of the drupchen, ‘the receiving of the siddhis’, during which he blessed the amrita. Twelve thousand people from twenty-two different countries, including more than one hundred lamas and geshes, attend His Holiness' teachings on 'The Path to Enlightenment' and his commentary on Longchen Rabjam’s ‘Finding Comfort and Ease in Meditation’ from the Ngalso Korsum trilogy. 

In December 2005 the newly constructed temple in Lerab Ling is able to host its first major event. Rigpa students brave snowy conditions to welcome Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche, who blessed the temple and gave a series of empowerments including the Nyingtik Yabshyi. The temple's Tibetan name is, Palri Pema Ösel Dargyé Ling, a place like the Glorious Mountain of Padmasambhava, from where his tradition—the ‘Clear Light teachings of the Great Perfection'—will flourish and spread. 

In July 2006 the temple opens its doors to welcome the Rigpa sangha for the summer retreats. Professor Samdhong Rinpoche—the first elected Kalön Tripa or Prime Minister of the Tibetan government in exile, from 2001 to 2011, the Nechung Oracle, Lodi Gyari Rinpoche, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche and Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche are among the invited guests. More than 2000 members of the Rigpa sangha attended the All-mandala retreat. 

Kyabjé Sakya Trizin gave the special transmission of Vajrakilaya held by the descendants of the Khön family down to the present Sakya Trizin, which can be traced back to Khön Nagendrarakshita, a direct disciple of Guru Rinpoche. Kyabjé Sakya Trizin said: "Of the profound and inexhaustible ocean of teachings that Guru Padmasambhava possessed, Vajrakilaya is one of the most important. This is a very rare teaching that has not only continued through an unbroken lineage from the primordial Buddha, but has also been passed down through the hereditary lineage. Each of these masters, from Guru Padmasambhava to those of the present, has achieved great realization, and as a result has performed great miracles." 

Chokling Rinpoche, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche and his monks came to Lerab Ling for the first of many visits in 1996 for a Vajrakilaya drupchö and to perform the sacred dance of the eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche. In 2002 they led a Kurukulla drupchen, in 2003 a Lama Norlha drupchen and in 2004 a Tukdrup Barché Kunsel drupchen.

In 1996 Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche gave the empowerment of Chimé Phakme Nyingtik and performed a Jinsek, a fire offering to bless the work of Sogyal Rinpoche.

From 1997-2012 Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche taught extensively in the Rigpa Shedra, both at Lerab Ling and Dzogchen Beara. 

On 5th of December 2006, around the beginning of Rigpa’s first three-year retreat, Khandro Tséring Chödrön came to live at Lerab Ling. Sogyal Rinpoche said: “There was no-one quite like her in this world. She was the greatest woman master, respected by all the lamas. She lived an exemplary life, a life of pure devotion that was legendary among the masters and their students alike. Anyone who had the good fortune to meet her was blessed."

His Holiness the Dalai Lama performed inauguration ceremony of the temple in Lerab Ling. It was attended by lamas and geshés of all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism as well as representatives of many religions and national and local political figures. More than 3000 guests from the Rigpa sangha attended. Sogyal Rinpoche, welcoming the Dalai Lama said: "We have built this temple in order to provide a truly authentic example of the spiritual culture of Tibet. We have also built this temple as a home for the teachings of Buddha. We could say that even more important than the outer temple is the inner temple—the people who come to study here, and practise and experience for themselves the truth of the teachings." 

Sogyal Rinpoche said: "It is crucial that those who are following the teachings are helped to find the right inner and outer environment in which fully to practise them, to follow them through, and to come to realize and truly embody them. This is a challenge amidst the many distractions of the modern world. 

"It was in order to see what really works, and to integrate the teachings in western culture, that we shaped the three-year retreat that we held for 400 long-term students between 2006 and 2009 at Lerab Ling. It was based on my own experience of teaching in the West and on serious discussions with many, many lamas. 

"For this three-year retreat, we set out to convey the teachings in a way that was relevant, accessible, and at the same time authentic and complete.

"During the retreat we made a special focus on study. For six months each year, nearly every day, I guided the students experientially through teachings, practice and integration, along with emotional work, and working in groups. 

"During the other six months of the year, the students put these teachings into practice, in the context of strict retreat.

"At specific points during the retreat, we invited lamas from different traditions, who are known for the depth of their understanding and their gift for explaining the teachings. They were very inspired to see long-term practitioners who were practising the Dharma so genuinely and so enthusiastically.

"A number of lamas said, This is a place where the Dharma will remain. They also said: If we do not teach these people, then who do we teach? So they gave a wealth of instructions, including even some of the highest Dzogchen instructions." 

The Rigpa Shedra took place for the first time in Lerab Ling in 2001, with Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche and Ringu Tulku Rinpoche who both taught on Shantideva’s Bodhicharyavatara. In 2006 the first Rigpa Shedra East took place at the Palyul Retreat Centre in Pharping, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

From 2003-2006 Khenchen Namdrol taught on the Guhyagarbha Tantra, and in 2009 on Mipham Rinpoche's The Lion's Roar: A Commentary on Sugatagarbha. The Shedra has also studied: Mipham Rinpoche’s Wheel of Investigative Meditation and Gateway to Knowledge, Bodhicharyavatara, the Uttaratantra Shastra, Abhisamayalankara, Madhyamakalankara and Madhyamakavatara. 

2010 marked the centenary of the birth of Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, to commemorate the occasion, Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche - who was recognized in 1995 as Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche's incarnation - was invited to take part in a programme of celebrations around the world, which included a six day visit to Lerab Ling in France.

In welcoming Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche to Lerab Ling, Sogyal Rinpoche said: "At Prapoutel in 1990 I requested Khyentse Rinpoche to return and he promised that he would. We have been waiting ever since. And now today, that promise has come true. This is why it is so incredibly moving and meaningful, Rinpoche, to welcome you here today." 

In the autumn of 2010, in the presence of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Sogyal Rinpoche, Khandro Tséring Chödrön and Mayum Tséring Wangmo, an elaborate Tukdrup Barché Kunsel drupchen which included rabne, tenshyuk and mendrup was led by Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche and the monks of Chokling Monastery, along with the monks and nuns of Lerab Ling and over 650 lay sangha.

Tukdrup Barché Kunsel is a joint terma revelation of the two great tertöns Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Chokgyur Lingpa. Tukdrub means 'heart practice,' barché künsel means 'dispeller of all obstacles.' 

Yangsi Kalu Rinpoche returned to Lerab Ling, teaching on the Four Foundations of the Shangpa Kagyü. Tenga Rinpoche, who had accompanied Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche on his visit to Rigpa London in 1982, came to Lerab Ling to guide the 3-year retreat in 2009. On his last visit in 2010 he gave the empowerments of Chime Pakme Nyingtik and Green Tara.

The 3rd Buddhism and Medicine Forum in 2010 was entitled: ‘Meditation and Health: The therapeutic Benefits of Meditation in Modern Life’. Nearly 1,000 people attended.

Mingyur Rinpoche gave a public talk on Calming the Mind: The Practice of Awareness Meditation which is now available on Youtube. 

In 1994 Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche taught at Rigpa centres in Paris, Lerab Ling, London, and Munich. These teachings were published as 'Wild Awakening: The Heart of Mahamudra and Dzogchen'. He returned to Lerab Ling to teach on this theme in 2011.

Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche continued his teaching on Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo, and led a Kurukulle drupchen in November.

Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche returned to teach The Wheel Blade of Mind Transformation by Dharmarakshita, in 2011 and The Intermediate Stages of Meditation by Kamalashila, in 2012. 

Sogyal Rinpoche wrote in The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: "In a figure like Khandro Tséring Chödrön, the greatest woman master of our day, who was the wife of my master Jamyang Khyentse, you see very clearly what years of the deepest devotion and practice can create out of the human spirit. Her humility and beauty of heart, and the shining simplicity, modesty, and lucid, tender wisdom of her presence are honoured by all Tibetans, even though she herself tried as far as possible to remain in the background, never to push herself forward, and to live the hidden and austere life of an ancient contemplative." 

At the end of May 2011, Khandro Tséring Chödrön, who has lived at Lerab Ling since 2006, passed away. The dung chö (cremation) ceremonies took place on 2 September, presided over by His Holiness Sakya Trizin. Sogyal Rinpoche wrote: "Khandro was universally respected, loved and revered as one of the greatest practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism in recent times, and an inspiration and source of blessings to Buddhist practitioners everywhere."

Ceremonies were conducted in her honour at monasteries in Tibet, India, Nepal and Bhutan. The memorial ceremonies at Lerab Ling were attended by nearly two thousand people, including some of the foremost masters of the Tibetan tradition. 

Four mandalas surrounded the cremation stupa. In the east gathered Kyabjé Sakya Trizin, Dungse Gyana Vajra Rinpoche and Khen Rinpoche to practice the Vajrayogini Jinsek. In the south gathered Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche, Pema Wangyal Rinpoche, Rangdröl Rinpoche and Tulku Yeshe to practice the Thukdrub Barche Künsel. In the west was Sogyal Rinpoche and his mother Mayumla Tsering Wangmo (Khandro Tsering Chödrön’s elder sister), Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche, Alak Zenkar Rinpoche and Tulku Rigdzin Pema to practice the Minling Dorsem; and in the north the practice of Hevajra was conducted by Dungse Ratna Vajra Rinpoche and his Lamas. 

Sogyal Rinpoche observed: “On account of her humility, Khandro was never one to give blessings to others. In 2006, she came to Lerab Ling and she made it her home, and the very fact that she lived here, I always felt, was itself the greatest blessing of all. Because of her presence, we all could feel that Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche were both here as well. Now that she has dissolved into the dharmadhatu, she has blessed Lerab Ling even more completely, for a place where a great master like her has passed away into the ultimate nature becomes extremely sacred, and utterly charged with blessings.” 

Yangthang Rinpoche, a main lineage holder in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism who has received many teachings from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dodrupchen Rinpoche and Penor Rinpoche granted in 2012 an extensive cycle of Longchen Nyingtik empowerments, and in 2013 the Nyingtik Yabshyi and Gesar empowerments, as well as explanatory teachings. 

Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche concluded his 4 years of teaching on Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo, the 'Gradual Path of the Wisdom Essence'. With Neten Chokling Rinpoche he led Chimé Phakmé Nyingtik and Kurukulle Drupchens.

Khenchen Namdrol Rinpoche began his profound dzogchen teachings, which were also attended by Tsoknyi Rinpoche and Cheogon Rinpoche.

Khenchen Pema Sherab continued his teaching on Yönten Dzö—The Treasury of Precious Qualities, the famous treatise by Jikmé Lingpa, which he began in 2012. 

In June of 2014, His Holiness Sakya Trizin came to Lerab Ling to direct the inauguration and consecration of Khandro Tsering Chödrön’s memorial stupa.

His Holiness Sakya Trizin with left to right, standing: Damo Sonam, Tulku Rigzin Pema, Gyana Vajra Rinpoche, Jikme Khyentse Rinpoche, Sogyal Rinpoche, Tulku Pema Wangyal Rinpoche, Khenpo upten Nyima. Sitting: Urgyen-la , Mayum Tsering Wangmo, Alak Zenkar Rinpoche, Pewar Rinpoche, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche, Tulku Rangdrol Rinpoche.