At the very center of the Tibetan Buddhist world is the lama or spiritual master. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was the archetype of the spiritual teacher; someone whose inner journey led him to an extraordinary depth of knowledge and enabled him to be, for all who met him, a fountain of loving kindness, wisdom and compassion.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was one of the last of the generation of accomplished lamas who completed their education and training in Tibet. He was born in 1910 in Eastern Tibet to a family descended from the royal lineage of the ninth century king Trisong Detsen. When he was still in his mother’s womb, he was recognized as a tulku or incarnation by the illustrious teacher, Mipham Rinpoche, and later was enthroned as an emanation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, one of the most important tertons (treasure-finders) and writers of the 19th century and the main inspiration for the non-sectarian movement. Khyen-tse means wisdom and love. The Khyentse tulkus are incarnations of several key figures in the development of Tibetan Buddhism including KunKyen Longchenpa, Jigme Lingpa and Vimilamitra.