Hungtram Dhungzin Namkha Dorje Rinpoche

Venerable Hungtram Dhungzin Namkha Dorje Rinpoche was born in 1981 in the remote Dolpo region of Nepal into the distinguished Nub Clan—also known as the Hungtram family lineage—renowned for its ancient yogic and spiritual heritage.

 

A respected Buddhist teacher and accomplished scholar, Rinpoche is the present throne holder (Dungzin Tripa) of the sacred Hungtram Nyingma Lineage, a profound tradition rooted in centuries of realized masters. From an early age, he was nurtured in the Dharma by his grandfather and great-grandfather, the eminent Hungtram Rinpoche Yeshe Gangshar Rangdol, receiving blessings, instructions, and transmissions that were passed down with unwavering devotion.

 

Rinpoche began his formal monastic education at Ngagyur Dongak Choeling Monastery in Pharping, Nepal. He continued his studies in Buddhist philosophy at the prestigious Dzongsar Institute in Bir, Himachal Pradesh, and later deepened his training in Buddhist Tantra at the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute in South India.

 

He has received a vast array of transmissions, empowerments, and heart-essence instructions from the great masters of his time—luminaries who upheld the living wisdom of all major Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Under the guidance of the late Kyabje Tana Chime Rinpoche, he entered into extended solitary retreat in the blessed environment of West Sikkim, following in the footsteps of the great Himalayan yogins. He continues to engage in meditation retreat regularly, guided by sacred geography and inner calling.

 

Rinpoche began teaching at the age of sixteen, offering the Dharma with clarity, warmth, and experiential depth. Deeply committed to the flourishing of the Dharma and the wellbeing of all beings, he also embodies the principles of socially engaged Buddhism. He founded a community school in his native village in Dolpo, providing free education to hundreds of children in one of the most isolated regions of the Himalayas.

 

Internationally, Rinpoche has taught across Asia and beyond—including at Oxford University (UK), Samararhunga University in Java, and Bali Hindu University in Indonesia—as well as in Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Tibet, and many other countries.

 

In recognition of his deep realization and commitment to the lineage, His Holiness Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche appointed him as the Hungtram Dungzin Tripa, the supreme head of the Hungtram family lineage. His formal enthronement was presided over by H.E. Kyabje Gochen Tulku Sangak Rinpoche, with the blessings of the lineage masters.

 

Rinpoche currently serves as Chief Spiritual Advisor to the Shree Boudhanath Stupa Area Development Committee, under Nepal’s Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation—working to preserve and develop this sacred UNESCO World Heritage site.

 

Walking the path of the bodhisattvas, Hungtram Dhungzin Namkha Dorje Rinpoche continues to embody the union of study, practice, and compassionate service, offering the nectar of the Dharma wherever it is most needed.