Childhood
Lama Lakshey Zangpo Rinpoche was born near Nyenpo Yurtse, Golok, in the beginning of the summer in the wood tiger year (1974) to a Tibetan nomadic family.
At the age of three, Lama Lakshey was
first recognized as a Tulku (teacher that chooses to reincarnate in order to help sentient
beings). At that time, Lama Lakshey's family chose to keep him at home instead of sending him to monastic school as was the custom.
As a result Lama lived with his family in a very organic way within a traditional black tent, tending yaks, horses, and sheep. Throughout this time, Lama Lakshey repeatedly expressed an interest in entering
formal Buddhist teacher training. On one occasion he even pleaded with a visiting Lama
(Buddhist teacher) to take him along with him in order that he might be able to enter a dharma
training environment. During this period, Lama Lakshey received his main dharma education
from local and visiting masters, and from his mother Samdrup Tso who is a wisdom Dakini in
her own right. Samdrup Tso being the daughter of Terton Orgyen Katchod Lingpa (one of the
thirteen great Lingpas in the Nyingma tradition).
Monastic Education & Blessings of the Masters
Lama Lakshey Zangpo’s formal dharma education began at the age of eleven when he
entered Mardo Tashi Choling and began his training as a spiritual master in the Kathok
Nyingma tradition. During his time at Mardo Tashi Choling, he received the complete Khatok
lineage empowerments and transmissions known as Duddul and Longsel from Khatok Moktsa
Rinpoche.
At the age of fifteen, Lama Lakshey entered Larung Chokyi Drongkyer (Sertar Buddhist
Academy), where he studied with the Lord of the Dharma, the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Jigme
Phuntsok Rinpoche, and many other sublime teachers. From him he received the
empowerments of Nyingtik Yabzhi. Also during his fifteenth year, he received from Khenpo
Shedrup the Five Volumes of Teaching which he then listened to, contemplated, memorized,
and practiced. Especially, he received the ripening empowerments of the liberating oral
teachings of Dzogpa Chenpo (Great Perfection) from Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok. He engaged in
listening, contemplation and meditation for many years and received many empowerments and
oral transmissions from Moktrul Rinpoche and other great learned masters including Khenchen
Tsultrim Lodro, Khenchen Chimed Rigzin, Tulku Lungtok, Khenpo Sherab Zangpo, Khenpo
Yeshe Phuntsok. Throughout his time there, Lama Lakshey listened and practiced these
precious instructions in a vast and profound way.
Pilgrimage to Holy Places
At the age of twenty seven, Lama Lakshey set out on pilgrimage and traveled to many holy sites
in Kham, Amdo, U tsang, China, India, Nepal, and Thailand. He also practiced meditation in
retreat in the caves of Longchen Rabjam and Guru Rinpoche at Samye Chimpu and Gangri
Tokar. During this period of pilgrimage, he received teachings from many great scholars and
practitioners within the Sakya, Geluk, Kagyu, Nyingma and Jonang traditions of Tibetan
Buddhism. From Terton Lama Gerwang, Lama Lakshey received the complete cycle of Rinchen
Terdzod empowerments and transmissions. At this same time Lama Lakshey was formally
recognized by Terchen Lama Gerwang as the reincarnation of Tulku Pema Tashi, the son of the
treasure revealer Terton Orgyen Kachyod Lingpa. Upon returning to Golok, Lama Lakshey encountered His Eminence Bontrul Tenpai Wangchuk
who became his second Root Guru. From him Lama Lakshey received Nyen Gyud (snyan
brgyud), The Whispered Lineage, a lineage of secret teachings transmitted only to the closest
disciples through direct communication with their root teacher.
Journey to the West
In 2003, at the aspiration of
Khentrul Kunzang Gyaltsen, Lama Lakshey undertook the position of Vice Principal at the
Kumkar Sengdruk Taktse School in Golok where he taught for several years. Established by
Khentrul Kunzang Gyaltsen the goal of this primary school is to educate orphans and
impoverished children.
Then, Khentrul Kunzang Gyaltsen, Tulku Thubten Norbu, and Lakshey Zangpo discussed with
each other how to most benefit Tibetan people, especially the students of Sengdruk Taktse
School, and they decided that coming to America to study would be very beneficial. So Kyabje
Lingtrul Rinpoche kindly invited Lakshey Zangpo to come to America.
Lama Lakshey arrived in America in September of 2007.
Tsinta Mani Choling
In 2009 Lama Lakshey moved to Spokane, WA and founded his dharma organization here in the West. From this time until today Lama has provided regular ongoing meditation instruction and teaching in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. During this period, H.H. Katok Getse Rinpoche, the Fourth Head of the Nyingma tradition, came to the center to bestow blessings and to enthrone Lama Lakshey according to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. In 2011, after three years of teaching and practice, Lama Lakshey officially founded Tsinta Mani Choling. At Lama Lakshey’s request, H.E. Tulku Tenzin Gyatso, the head of Larung Gar Institute, bestowed the blossoming dharma Center with the name of Tsinta Mani Choling (The Wish Fulfilling Jewel). The TMC name also corresponds directly with the sacred name of H.H. Jigme Phuntsok which is Yeshe Norbu. H.H. Katok Getse Rinpoche continued to visit several times between 2009 and 2015, further establishing TMC as a place of serious practice and instruction.
Lama has a modern approach to
teaching meditation of individuals from a variety of backgrounds, teaching classics and sutra
using traditional methods as well as meditation and mindfulness for those of all faiths. Lama
Lakshey is especially interested in how to merge traditional culture together with modern
thinking. Lama Lakshey actively teaches in Washington, California, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and
Louisiana. Since 2020 Lama Lakshey has been teaching online continuing the Sunday teaching cycle that began in 2009. Also beginning in 2020, Lama Lakshey founded the Wednesday night series which provides ongoing weekly instruction on a variety of topics.