Sakyong Mipham

Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
Title	Sakyong
Personal
Born	Ösel Rangdröl Mukpo November 1962, on the 15th day (Full moon) of the tenth lunar month Bodh Gaya, India
Religion	Shambhala Training
Nationality	American, Tibetan
Spouse	Semo Tseyang Palmo Mukpo, nee Ripa, Dechen Choying Sangmo
Children	3 daughters: Jetsun Drukmo Yeshe Sarasvati Ziji Mukpo, Jetsun Yudra Lhamo Yangchen Ziji Mukpo, Jetsun Dzedrön Ökar Yangchen Ziji Mukpo
Lineage	Sakyong Lineage, Kagyü and Nyingma
Occupation	Author and Teacher, Tibetan Buddhism
Senior posting
Teacher	Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Penor Rinpoche (Pema Norbu Rinpoche), Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche
Reincarnation	Mipham the Great

Part of a series on
Shambhala Buddhism
King of Shambhala
Core teachings and texts Shambhala Training Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior
Key figures Chögyam Trungpa Ösel Tendzin Sakyong Mipham
Organizations Vajradhatu (1973–1999) Naropa University (1974–) Shambhala International (2000–)
Main centers Dechen Chöling Drala Mountain Center Gampo Abbey Karmê Chöling
Related topics Great Stupa of Dharmakaya Kalapa Kings of Shambhala Miksang Pawo Shambhala Shenlha Okar
v t e

Sakyong Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche, Jampal Trinley Dradül was born as Ösel Rangdröl Mukpo (b. November 1962), and is a Tibetan Buddhist master and holder of the Sakyong Lineage of Mukpodong, his family lineage. The Sakyong was recognized by Penor Rinpoche in 1995 as the tulku (reincarnation) of Ju Mipham Gyatso the Great, the renown Rime teacher of the late 19th century who stated he would only be reborn in Shambhala.

Ösel Rangdröl Mukpo is the eldest son of Chogyam Trungpa and of Konchok Peldron (1931-2019), a Tibetan nun that in 1959 joined Chogyam Trungpa's group while they escaped from Tibet. He was born in 1962, in Bodhgaya, India where Konchok Peldron lived.^[1][2] In 1969, he was sent to Samye Ling Monastery in Scotland where his father lived, and then was brought to North America in 1972 where he lived with his father and stepmother Diana Pybus Mukpo.^[2] His mother moved to the renown Tibetan refugee colony and Buddhist center at Bir, India.^[1]

In 1979, the Sakyong was chosen by Chogyam Trungpa as his heir of the Shambala lineage, and he was conferred with the title of Sawang (Wyl. sa dbang, "Lord of the Earth").^[2] His mother Lady Konchok Peldron in 1992 joined with the Shambhala organization at Karmê Chöling in Vermont, then moved to Boulder, Colorado.^[1]

By 1990 after the Regent Thomas Rich (Ösel Tendzin) died, he assumed control of Vajradhatu and Shambhala.^[2] Then in 1995 as he was recognized as the tulku of Ju Mipham Gyatso by the 3rd Pema Norbu Rinpoche, Penor Rinpoche also conferred his title as Sakyong (Wyl. sa skyong, "Protector of the Earth").

By 2000, both the Vajradhatu and Shambhala organizations were joined under the umbrella organization of Shambhala International.^[2] The Sakyong led Shambhala International, a worldwide network of Buddhist meditation centers, retreat centers, a monastery, and other enterprises.

In July 2018 and after more than two decades, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche agreed to temporarily step back from his administrative and teaching duties to allow space for an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.^[3] He resumed teaching in late 2019. He stepped aside from the Shambhala organization in February 2022 after an impasse in which the Shambhala Board of Directors could not agree with the Sakyong Potrang - the organization representing the Sakyong - on a way forward together.

The Sakyong moved to Nepal where he teaches his international sangha, and during most weekends he offers online teachings.^[4]