fbpx

OUR
TEACHERS

GUIDES ALONG THE PATH

Any course of learning requires a highly competent guide, but expertise is even more important when working with the mind. We offer the opportunity to learn from renowned experts in Buddhism, yoga, and other areas related to emotional and physical wellbeing, including two of the most respected masters of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, their senior students, and other highly esteemed teachers from around the world.

 

 

 

OUR TEACHERS

 

A smiling Buddhist monk with glasses

TRUNGRAM GYALWA RINPOCHE, PHD

H.E. Trungram Gyalwa Rinpoche is the founder and spiritual director of the Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing. Known as a scholar, teacher and meditation master to thousands of students around the world, Rinpoche is also the first incarnate lama to earn a PhD in the West. He completed his doctoral studies in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism at Harvard University in 2004.

He is the head of the Trungram lineage, its monasteries, meditation centers, schools, dharma centers and groups around the world. One of the highest tulkus of the Kagyu lineage, he is a Rime master, having received teachings from the great masters of all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

Rinpoche offers students a unique blend of Eastern wisdom and Western understanding. A scholar of Sanskrit and Tibetan, Rinpoche roots his teachings in the Skills of Awareness—a path combining profound meditation techniques with essential points of Dharma study. Read more

A Buddhist monk in front of aqua and orange cloth

KHENCHEN RINPOCHE DRUPON TRINLEY PALJOR (1930-2022)

Khenchen Rinpoche Drupon Trinley Paljor is one of the chief lineage holders of the Kagyu school. Khenchen means Great Khenpo, or teacher, of the lineage.

Khenchen Rinpoche began his monastic training as a boy. By the age of 30, he had completed the traditional Buddhist retreat (three years, three months and three days) three times and became a retreat master. He received the various Kagyupa teachings from H.H. the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, the head of the Kagyu lineage, and also numerous teachings of the Sakyapa and Nyingmapa lineages from H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

He participated in the projects of the 16th Karmapa as a Tibetan refugee and was later appointed the personal tutor of Trungram Gyaltrul Rinpoche, with whom he has been working closely ever since. Khenchen Rinpoche serves as a main teacher and retreat master at the Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing. Read more

 

 

 

PROGRAM LEADERS

 

Man in a grey sweather holding a microphone

JOHN HENDERSON

John Henderson has been a meditator for over 25 years and a student of Trungram Gyalwa Rinpoche's since 2003. He has been a program leader at the Harvard School of Design summer programs, has led Dharmakaya's Boston-based study group for more than 15 years, and is a Director of three organizations founded by Rinpoche. He translates his practice into his work as a business professional and entrepreneur with a focus on healthcare-related enterprises.

Man wearing glasses and a navy pullover sweater

GARY WHEATON

Gary Wheaton has been a Buddhist practitioner and student of Trungram Gyalwa Rinpoche since 2008 after wandering into the Center to learn how to meditate. He was warmly welcomed by Trungram Gyalwa Rinpoche, Khenchen Rinpoche and many students who patiently taught him basic Buddhist thought and meditation. Over the past decade Gary has served as a teacher's assistant, 5-day retreat leader and retreat cook and organizer.  Professionally he is a human resources executive with expertise in conflict resolution, people strategies and leadership development.

ANNA WINKLER

Anna Winkler has been practicing and teaching yoga since 1989, when she certified with the Sivananda Yoga Organization, in both India and Canada. She served as a volunteer staff member there for 6 years, assisting in Yoga Teacher Training courses and modeling for 2 yoga books, among other things. Anna has been practicing Ashtanga Yoga since 1997 (with Eddie Stern and other authorized teachers), and teaching Ashtanga since 2002. She has been studying and practicing Iyengar Yoga at Studio Yoga in Madison, NJ since 2007, where she received her second 500-hour teaching certificate. Anna teaches an Alignment Based Hatha Yoga class. Her Ashtanga classes are also alignment influenced. Anna has been teaching in the Maplewood, NJ area since 2001, and is the founder and director of Shakti Yoga & living arts (since 2005). Anna is also a Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Ayurveda Lifestyle Consultant.

 

GUEST TEACHERS

 

Many of our programs are given by guest teachers; we list a few here:

Jewon Jigme Rinpoche

Karma Trinlay Rinpoche

Mirabai Bush

Dharmakaya Center For Wellbeing
191 Cragsmoor Road

Cragsmoor, New York 12566
845.640.4593

© 2019 Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing. All rights reserved

Privacy Policy

Dharmakaya Center For Wellbeing
191 Cragsmoor Road Cragsmoor, New York 12566
845.640.4593

Privacy Policy

© 2019 Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing. All rights reserved