Lama Thinley
Thinley Gyatso was born on the 18th of March, 1975, in the village of Mugu in far northwestern Nepal. His parents named him Torchi Lama. As a small child, in 1977, his parents took him to Jumla, where he was presented to HH Dudjom Rinpoche, who cut his hair and gave him a new name (Orgyen Chodar). Thinley’s family had been beset by sickness and premature deaths, and Dudjom Rinpoche told them that if they would make Thinley a monk, all that misfortune would come to an end. His words proved true.
In 1984, Thinley became a novice practitioner under the guidance of his uncle Orgyen Sonam Rigzin in Mugu. In addition to learning to read and write Tibetan, he received the Ngondro transmission and the Three Root Teachings of the Treasure of Jatsun Nyingpo as his main practice. He also studied the Treasure of Garwang Dorje. At 13, Thinley received the Jatsun Nyingpo Treasure from Karma Tsewang, who also transmitted the Garwang Dorje Treasure and the Katog Damcho Trulku Nyingtig.
When Thinley reached 14 years of age he became a monk – he took refuge, had his hair cut, and received his dharma name of Thinley Gyatso during a week-long celebration, during which he took only one meal a day. He then undertook the Ngondro practice and did a retreat of one year and three months on the Three Roots of Jatsun Nyingpo and Garwang Dorje. In 1990, Thinley went to Kathmandu, where he became a student of Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche in his shedra.
During his student years, Thinley received many precious teachings and transmissions: he received the Jatsun Nyingpo Treasure from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche in 1991; the 62-volume New Treasure Terzhod from Penor Rinpoche in 1994-95; all the Longchenpa text transmissions from Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche in 1995; the Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo Treasure empowerment of Trulshik Rinpoche and transmission from Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche and Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche; all the Dudjom Tersar wang and lung empowerments from Trulshik Rinpoche and Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche; the kama transmission and empowerment and Dudjom Tersar from Taglung Tsetrul Rinpoche. After receiving the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro from Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche in 1998, Thinley started intensive meditation practice, completing the Ngondro in the monastery in one year, a 6-month lama and khandro retreat at Nagi Retreat Center, and a 7-month yidam retreat in Pharping. He did one-month Yeshe Lama practice at the monastery. Thinley began teaching at Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche’s shedra in 1999, focusing primarily on the ritual arts and sutras. He is also the chant master of the monastery. Thinley completed his shedra training in 2002. His practice continues, focusing on Yantig Ngakpo. He undertook the Yantig Ngakpo Ngondro in 2005.
Thinley Gyatso remains committed to the welfare of his home community in Mugu and is active in the Buddhist Welfare Association there. In 2007 he gave teachings in Kathmandu on the Longchen Nyingtig Ngondro to villagers from Mugu and in 2008 he gave similar teachings in Mugu itself.
Thinley’s root teacher is Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche, from whom he has received many precious empowerments, teachings and transmissions. Rinpoche honored Thinley by making him the lineage keeper of the rare set of teachings and practices known as Yangtig Ngakpo.