His Eminence the Sakyong, Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche, is one of Tibet’s highest and most respected incarnate lamas. He is unique in that he bridges two worlds. The eldest son of the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who was instrumental in bringing Buddhism to the West, he is the incarnation of Mipham the Great, who is revered in Tibet as an emanation of Manjushri, the buddha of wisdom. A descendant of the Tibetan warrior-king Gesar of Ling, Sakyong Mipham holds the Kagyü and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. The head of the Shambhala Buddhist lineage, he is spiritual director of Shambhala, a global network of meditation and retreat centers and the lineage holder of Naropa University.

The Sakyong—literally “earth-protector”—is a chögyal—“dharma king”—who holds and propagates the teachings of Shambhala. The first king of Shambhala, Dawa Sangpo, was empowered directly by the Buddha. The Shambhala tradition emphasizes confidence in the enlightened nature of all beings—windhorse—and teaches courageous rulership based on wisdom and compassion.

Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche was born in 1962 in Bodhagaya, India, to Lady Könchok Palden. He spent his early years receiving a Buddhist education, later joining his father in the West, where he continued his study of Buddhist philosophy and ritual. He has studied with the great masters His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche—teacher of the HH Dalai Lama and the king of Bhutan—and HH Penor Rinpoche. He is married to Princess Tseyang Palmo, daughter of His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche, head of the Ripa lineage. A poet, artist and author, the Sakyong has written two books, the national bestseller Turning the Mind into an Ally, and Ruling Your World. He also runs marathons to raise money for Tibet through the Konchok Foundation. The Sakyong travels extensively, teaching throughout the world.